CHAPEL HILL — The Riverside girls’ basketball team is headed back to Williamston without a championship trophy for a second-consecutive year after falling to Winston-Salem Prep, 58-31, at the Carmichael Arena in the NCHSAA 1-A title game on Saturday.

The win hands the Phoenix its first state champion in program history and wing Dominique Claytor, notching 10 points and eight rebounds, was awarded Most Valuable Player honors for her defense against the Riverside forwards.

The Knights had won 17-straight games leading up to the final game of the season, carried by standout power forward Kayla Jones, a sophomore, and senior guard Takwana Bland.

Jones, who entered averaging 21 points and 8.2 boards per game, was held to just 12 points and 11 rebounds after dropping 31 points in last year’s title game.

Winston-Salem Prep opened on an 6-0 run and never surrendered the lead, finishing the first quarter up 15-8.

Uncharacteristic turnovers plagued the Knights down the stretch in the second quarter, as the Phoenix led 32-15 at the break.

Scoring just five points in a lackluster third quarter, the Knights were unable to catch up with the high-powered Winston-Salem Prep offense.

With the loss, Riverside finishes the season 23-6 with state runner-up accolades and a Two Rivers Conference championship.