ELIZABETHTOWN –Whiteville Central clinched the Waccamaw Middle School Conference AAA Division girls basketball championship Thursday with a 30-26 victory over Elizabethtown.
The Lady Hornets raced to a 14-0 first period lead. Laila Smith tossed in the first Elizabethtown basket in the second quarter to trim the halftime lead to 15-2.
Iveonna Ward threw in a pair of baskets in the third quarter for the Lady Cougars, and Lainey Hughes and Zoe Smith pumped in a basket each as the lead was trimmed to 19-10.
Laila Smith and Ward fired in a 3-point shot and another basket each in the final period. Hughes sank a pair of baskets in the fourth quarter, and Brianna Phillips added a basket.
Ward led the Lady Cougars with 9 points. Laila Smith followed with 7 points, and Hughes finished with 6 points. Mykelliona Shipman and M. Smith topped the Central scoring with 8 points each.
Elizabethtown, now 6-5, will host Bladenboro Monday.
Central 14 1 4 11 -30
Elizabethtown 0 2 8 16 – 26
ELIZABETHTOWN (26) – Lainey Hughes 6, Iveonna Ward 9, Zoe Smith 2, Calise Jackson, Mary Frances Sutton, La’Tosha Melvin, Laila Smith 7, Amari Richardson, Brianna Phillips 2.