Newton-Conover enters Friday's contest with a record of 23-3. Bandys enters Friday's game with a record of 24-1 with their lone loss being the Lady Red Devils.
Each squad won on its own home court in the season series.
No. 1 Newton-Conover (23-3) vs. No. 2 Bandys (24-1)
Bandys takes early early 5-4 lead, but Lady Trojans go on 10-0 run to take 14-5 lead and force a Trojan timeout.
Trojans score to end quarter, but Newton-Conover carries 16-10 lead after first quarter.
N-C maintains five-point lead, but Trojans chip into it on back-to-back possessions. A Madi Stroy three-pointer makes it a tie game, 22-22, as the Lady Red Devils take a timeout.
A four-point scoring spurt by N-C's Taylor Petty gave the Lady Red Devils a comfortable cushion.
However, behind a late run and a three-pointer from Chelsey Queen on Jesse Story's first assist of the game, the Trojans regained the lead by halftime.
HALFTIME: No. 2 Bandys 29, No. 1 Newton-Conover 28
Bandys: Chelsey Queen - eight points, Jesse Story - seven points, Brittany Moss/Madi Story - six points each
Newton-Conover: Shynese Whitener/Lanecia Williams/Taylor Petty - six points each
In a back-and-forth game that continues into the second half, Newton-Conover regains lead behind two second-half baskets from Lanecia Williams.
Five Red Devils score in the third quarter, pushing Newton-Conover to a 40-37 lead after the third quarter. The Trojans were held to eight points in the third, including four points from Taylor Sigmon.
Newton-Conover pulls out to its second-biggest lead of the game — 48-40 — with baskets by Williams, Whitener and Gibbs. Trojans respond with a Chelsey Queen three-pointer and a timeout. Newton-Conover leads 48-43 with 4:49 left in game.
Red Devils pulling away in the fourth quarter. Cayla Miller has scored nine points in the fourth, pacing the Red Devils to a double-digit victory over the Trojans.
Newton-Conover are your 2012 Catawba Valley 2A tournament champions!