The Observer News Enterprise is live at Catawba Valley Community College for semifinal action in the Catawba Valley 2A basketball tournament.
Girls championship game: No. 1 Bandys vs. No. 2 East Burke
Both teams come out struggling early on, shooting poorly from the field. East Burke's first field goal came on a Bailey Gragg's three-pointer at the 3:36 mark of the first quarter. With 1:59 left in the first quarter, Madi Story breaks an 0-for-9 string for Bandys with a lay up. The Lady Cavaliers lead 10-8 after the first quarter.
East Burke leads 19-17 at halftime. Both teams really struggling offensively. Madi Story leads Bandys with seven points, while Bailey Gragg paces the Lady Cavaliers with seven points of her own.
HALFTIME: No. 2 East Burke 19, No. 1 Bandys 17
The Lady Trojans grab the momentum early in the third quarter, pulling ahead 39-36 in the quarter. Madi Story with 10 points in the quarter to lead all scorers, while East Burke's Sydney Hicks connected on a trio of 3-pointers. Bandys in foul trouble, though. Haleigh Lackey and Sara Goble each pick up their third fouls in the stanza.
Bandys extends lead to 43-38 at the 5:28 mark of the fourth quarter. East Burke calls timeout to regroup.
Teams trade baskets back and forth in the waning minutes of the game. After Sydney Haas makes 1-of-2 free throws, East Burke trails 47-46 with 1:51 and calls timeout.
Kelsey Houser's jumper from just inside the free throw line gives East Burke a 48-47 lead, but Madi Story answers with a lay up over her own to give the Trojans a 49-48 advantage. Lady Cavaliers come up empty on their next possession, and Bandys calls timeout with 40.4 seconds left. to strategize.
Story is fouled, but misses the first of her 1-and-1. East Burke rebounds, takes the ball past midcourt and calls timeout with 25.9 seconds left.
Sydney Hicks loses control of the ball during the inbounds, Haleigh Lackey gets a steal and Bandys goes back to the free throw line. Rachel Hendershot makes 1-of-2, East Burke drives back past midcourt again and calls timeout with 10.9 seconds left.
East Burke's Lauren Arney takes the in-bound pass drives to the basket and misses her lay up. Lady Cavaliers center Sydney Haas collects the offensive rebound and misses her put back, as well. Bandys has won the 2012-13 CVAC girls basketball tournament championship!
FINAL SCORE: No. 1 Bandys 50, No. 2 East Burke 48