Friday night's Southwest Guilford-East Forsyth girls game looked like a mismatch on paper. It turned out to be anything but.
Southwest — the defending NCHSAA 4-A champion — stayed undefeated in the Piedmont Triad 4-A but only after clawing its way to a 51-48 victory.
The Cowgirls, 57-35 winners against the Eagles in the first meeting between the teams Jan. 10, improved to 18-4 overall and 10-0 in the PTC heading into the final week of the regular season. The Eagles fell to 9-12 and 7-3.
Zena Lovette, who led Southwest with 27 points, said she didn't see East Forsyth as a potential stumbling block and that she doesn't fear next week's opponents, High Point Central and Parkland.
"I'm pretty confident about those two teams, so I'm not really worried about it," she said. "I wasn't really worried about this game, to be honest. I'm pretty confident."
Southwest took a 48-46 lead after two free throws by Jessica Bridges with 3:33 left.
Coach Doug Lakins of East called time out with 1:59 left to set up a play. Ashlyn Jones took the last pass but shot wildly off the backboard. The Cowgirls rebounded and streaked up the court, and Lovette slipped inside East's 1-2-2 zone for a soft jumper and a 50-48 lead with 1:10 left.
Anna Bellefeuil of East was fouled by Briana Burgins with 48.6 seconds left but missed the front of a one-and-one.
"It was a little nerve-wracking at the end," coach Jessica Bryan of Southwest said. "The last time we beat them by quite a few points. Zena definitely stepped up for us.
"Toward the end, we were able to pick up the pressure a little bit, and we were able to get some loose balls to kind of prevent them in a situation from either tying the game or possibly win the game."
Southwest pushed its lead to 51-48 after Bridges drew a foul and hit the front of a one-and-one with 36.8 seconds left.
Lovette used her slashing ability to come up with several steals, and her play helped set up some easy shots. Southwest also trapped East on inbound passes and forced numerous turnovers with full-court pressure.
"We turned it over quite a bit tonight," Lakins said. "That's their M.O. That's what they want to do. They run an up-tempo game."
Burgins added 10 points for the Cowgirls. Bellefeuil and Kristen Hicks led the Eagles with 15 points apiece, and Jones chipped in 12.
Still down 51-48 with 8.4 seconds left, East had the ball out of bounds at halfcourt with a chance to tie. Mia Rudd took the inbound pass but rushed a shot against a double-team with 5.5 seconds left.
"That was more of a desperation shot," Lakins said. "I think we had eight seconds (on the inbound pass). We had a good inbound set. We just didn't execute it. Mia knew the clock was running down."
Aja Mott of Southwest was fouled by Bellefeuil with 1.5 seconds left but missed both free throws, giving East one last chance.
Hicks rebounded after the second miss, but her shot at the buzzer was well short.
"It's something to build on," Lakins said. "There's no moral victories."
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