By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
WILLIAMSTON — After getting off to a slow start against Northampton-West in the first round of the NCHSAA 1A playoffs Tuesday, Williamston wasted little time going to work on Northampton-East in the second round as the Tigers blew past the Rams 77-44 on Thursday at Williamston High School.
Katie Paschal led the charge scoring 22 of her game-high 47 points in the first quarter to give Williamston a 28-10 lead after the first period.
Paschal was dynamic, and scored the Tigers’ first 13 points of the game to put them up 13-8 over the Rams.
Williamston closed out the quarter on a 15-2 run which ended with Paschal scoring on a put-back layup at the buzzer to head into the second quarter up 28-10.
The junior guard scored in transition as well as in the halfcourt, and was unstoppable on both ends of the floor.
After her first quarter outburst, the future East Carolina Pirate netted 12 points in the second quarter, nine points in the third and four in the fourth to fall one short of her career-high 48 point which she achieved earlier this season against Roanoke.
Paschal could have easily eclipsed that mark had she played more than two meaningless minutes in the fourth quarter.
After the game, Paschal said she was driven by her fear of losing.
Tigers’ coach Jimmy Elks said that he feels his team is peaking at the right time.
Patrice Williams led the third-seeded Rams (Tar Roanoke Conference) with 19 points, 14 of them coming in the second half.
Williamston featured 10 players in the scoring column. After Paschal’s 47, Katie Butch was the next highest scorer with six, while Shakira Norfleet had five.
Williamston, the No. 1 seed from the Atlantic Conference, upped its record to 23-1, and extended its winning streak to 17 games.
The Tigers advance to the third round of the playoffs and will travel to Manteo (23-5), the No. 1 seed from the Albemarle Conference.
Despite having the better record, and already beaten Manteo twice this season, Williamston will play on the road because the Albemarle Conference has priority seeding.
Northampton-East 10 10 14 7 — 41
Williamston 28 16 19 14 — 77
Rams (41)
Boone 3, Patrice Williams 19, Nikki Peebles 11, Wiggins 4, Deloatch 4, Shoulders 2.
Tigers (77)
Katie Paschal 47, Norfleet 4, Clemmons 5, Morris 4, Davis 4, Everett 2, Butch 6, McCoy 3, Armstrong 2.