By By STEVE FRANKLIN, Sports Writer
CHOCOWINITY — Southside couldn’t slow South Robeson guards Nicorie Sinclair and Krista Davis on Tuesday night, as the tandem combined for 43 points to help the Mustangs race past the Lady Seahawks 60-50 in the opening round of the NCHSAA Class 1A girl’s state basketball tournament.
Sinclair used her speed to wreak havoc on both ends of the court, as she finished with a game-best 25 points and seven steals. Davis added 18 points and three steals.
The Mustangs jumped out to a 28-23 lead behind 15 first half points from Sinclair and maintained that margin until midway through the third quarter.
In the final four minutes of the third, South Robeson separated itself with a 9-0 run to take a 44-30 lead into the fourth.
The Seahawks made a last gasp attempt to win in the early stages of the fourth as they pulled to within 48-43 behind senior Mandi Harding’s seven points in the first three minutes of the final quarter.
But the Lady ’Hawks could claw no closer as Sinclair and Davis combined for eight points over the next two minutes to help push the lead back to double-digits and send the Mustangs into the second round of the state playoffs.
The undersized Mustangs also beat Southside on the glass, out-rebounding the Lady Seahawks, 36-29.
Katisha Hyman led Southside with 11 points, Chante Painter added nine and Mandi Harding and Tamisha Cradle each added eight.
South Robeson (11-9) will move on to face Cape Hatteras (22-2) in round two of the state tournament, while Southside’s season comes to a close with a 15-9 record.
Despite the first round loss, Lake was still happy with how things panned out the Lady Seahawks this season.
South Robeson 60, Southside 50
South Robeson 16 12 16 16 — 60
Southside 17 6 7 20 — 50
South Robeson (60)
Nicorie Sinclair 25, Krista Davis 18, Drawhorn 3, Blue 6, Bethea 3, Jacobs 3, Evans 2.
Southside (50)
Katisha Hyman 11, Painter 9, Harding 8, Jones 6, Ruffin 7, Cradle 8, Whitney 1.