Seahawks still dancing; Panthers and Pack fall

Published 9:24 pm Thursday, February 23, 2023

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The Southside girls are the only Beaufort County high school basketball team still playing after Tuesday’s second round of the state tournament.

The seventh-seeded Seahawks (24-6) advanced with a 66-44 home victory over #10 Cape Hatteras (14-10).

Senior Ka’Nyah O’Neal led the way with 28 points and 11 rebounds as Southside scored 26 points in the third quarter to put the game away.

“I told them in the locker room to put this team (Cape Hatteras) away in the third quarter and show people we are one of the top teams in the East,” coach Milton Ruffin said. “I’d say they responded pretty well.”

Southside forced multiple turnovers from their full-court press and turned them into easy baskets, forcing the Hurricanes to try to make up the deficit with three-point shots.

“We worked on our press every day since our last game and we ran it well tonight,” Ruffin said. “Ka’Nyah got her teammates involved with some unselfish passes and more balanced scoring will make us harder to defend.”

Sophomores Tamya Smith and Lily McLean joined O’Neal in double figures with 12 points each.

Southside will be home again Saturday after #18 Northwest Halifax knocked off #2 Northampton, 63-57, on their home floor.

“We are happy to not have to travel, but we know Northwest Halifax will be ready,” Ruffin said. “I think the girls have earned the right to play at home again and it’s tremendous to play in front of our crowd again.”

Meanwhile, the Northside girls season is over after the #12th seeded Panthers lost, 52-29, at fifth-seeded Perquimans to end the season 18-7.

The 22nd seeded Washington boys gave number 6 Heide Trask all they wanted at home, but fell 67-65 in overtime. The Pam Pack finished 14-14.