RALEIGH, N.C. – Northwest Guilford is used to close scoring big games, and the experience paid off as the Vikings held off Southeast Raleigh for a hard-fought 36-34 victory. The win was the first state championship victory for the Vikings Women’s Basketball program.
Tamia Davis had a stick-back two with 13 seconds remaining to draw Southeast Raleigh within two late, but the Bulldogs couldn't get the bucket to tie or take the lead on the final possession as a shot from Tamia Hicks fell short at the final horn.
The two teams battled hard defensively, as Southeast Raleigh outscored Northwest 14-9 in the second quarter to take a five-point lead. Northwest flipped the script in the third, as the Vikings knotted the score up headed to the final frame by outscoring the Bulldogs 9-4 in the third.
Sophomore Elizabeth Kitley had a double-double with 15 points and ten rebounds helping her to be named the Kay Yow Most Valuable Player of the game. Her ten rebounds helped give Northwest a 35-30 advantage on the glass.
Cayla King was named Northwest Guilford’s Most Outstanding Player and was the only other Viking in double figures with 16 points. She was 11 of 12 from the free throw line and had seven rebounds to go with three assists and two steals.
Southeast Raleigh was led by Tamia Hicks who scored 13 points to lead the Bulldogs while grabbing four rebounds and blocking three shots. Hicks was named the Bulldogs Most Outstanding Player. Jada McMillian was the only other Southeast Raleigh player in double digits with 12 points on the day.
The Bulldogs finished the year at 32-1 and were 14-0 in the Greater Neuse River 4A Conference where they were the champions for the ninth year in a row. They won the school’s fourth Eastern Regional Championship this year.
Northwest Guilford finished the season 30-2 on the year, winners of the Piedmont Triad 4A Conference where they were a perfect 10-0. The Vikings won the Western Regional final for the second straight year and grabbed their first state championship in Women’s Basketball with the victory.
