By dropping the first-round conference tournament game, the season came to an end for the Vikings.
They didn’t go down without a fight, however. Union Pines (11-13 overall record, fifth in conference) got within one point twice late in the fourth quarter with the last time coming when Ashley Jones hit a three-pointer to make the score 52-51 with 44 seconds left in the contest.
But the Wildcats’ Lindsay Thrift made three-of-four free throws over the remaining seconds to give Eastern Randolph (17-8) the win.
Union Pines was led by Lisa Jackson’s 19 points. It was the last game in a Union Pines uniform for seniors Kelly Jo Fields and Tashocka Belk.
Union Pines — Fields 2 0-0 6, Jackson 8 2-3 19, Jones 3 1-2 9, Belk 2 2-6 8, Oxendine 3 0-0 6, Mosley 1 0-0 3. Totals 18 5-11 51.
Eastern Randolph — McKenzie 1 0-0 3, Cox 0 2-2 2, Brooks 1 3-4 5, Thrift 2 4-9 8, Smith 4 0-2 8, Ferguson 1 0-0 2, Truitt 4 5-6 13, Martin 6 0-1 12. Totals - 19 14-24. Three-point goals: Union Pines 5 (Fields 2, Jones 2, Jackson).
