The Observer News Enterprise is live at Catawba Valley Community College for semifinal action in the Catawba Valley 2A basketball tournament.
Girls semifinals: No. 1 Bandys (22-2) vs. No. 4 Newton-Conover (15-9)
The Lady Trojans take a 20-12 lead after the first quarter, forcing 11 Newton-Conover turnovers. Madi Story leading Bandys early with six points, while Rachel Hendershot and Sierra Brotherton each have four points. Newton-Conover's Taylor Petty and Lanecia Williams each with four points.
Newton-Conover makes a run, but Bandys leads 39-34 at halftime. Bandys' Madi Story with 19 points in the first half to lead all scorers. Lanecia Williams leads Newton-Conover with 12 points.
HALFTIME: No. 1 Bandys 39, No. 4 Newton-Conover 34
Bandys outscores Newton-Conover 21-5 in the third quarter to pull ahead 60-39. Madi Story scores 11 points in the quarter. She now has 32 for the game. Lady Trojans go on an 11-0 run during the third stanza.
The Lady Red Devils outscore the Lady Trojans 19-15 in the fourth quarter, but fall in the game 75-58. Madi Story scored 38 points in the Bandys victory. Makenzie Eller paced Newton-Conover with 15 points.
FINAL SCORE: No. 1 Bandys 75, No. 4 Newton-Conover 58
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Boys semifinals: No. 1 East Burke (21-4) vs. No. 4 Bunker Hill (7-16)
East Burke pulls ahead 25-9 in the first quarter behind 11 points from Clay Byrd — a UNC-Greensboro commit.
Byrd with another big quarter in the second, helping the Cavaliers pull ahead 43-20 at halftime. Byrd has 22 points at half, while teammate Trever Hyatt adds 12 points. J'len Wilson leading Bunker Hill with 11 points.
HALFTIME: No. 1 East Burke 43, No. 4 Bunker Hill 20
East Burke's Clay Byrd finishes Wednesday's semifinal game with 33 points, helping the Cavaliers (22-4) advance to Friday's championship contest at 8 p.m. at the Tarlton Complex on the campus of CVCC. Trever Hyatt added 24 points in the East Burke victory.
J'Len Wilson led Bunker Hill (7-17) with 11 points.
FINAL: No. 1 East Burke 78, No. 4 Bunker Hill 38