MERRY HILL – Hobgood Academy scored 20 fourth-quarter points, including eight by sophomore Corie Roberson, to take a 42-30 victory over Ridgecroft School.

Friday night’s victory advanced third-seeded Hobgood to the championship game of the Tarheel Independent Conference tournament against top-ranked Terra Ceia Christian School.

Roberson started in place of senior Anna Turner who missed the game due to illness.

“The team really missed her (Turner), but Corie stepped up and played a heck of a ballgame,” said Hobgood head coach Pam Casper.

The scored was tied three times in the first quarter, but a three-point play by freshman Sarah Gregory Sykes with no time left on the clock gave the Lady Raiders an 11-8 lead.

The second quarter belonged to Ridgecroft as the Lady Rams outscored Hobgood 9-2.

“We went dry.

We missed shots under the basket,” explained Casper.

“That’s what I talked about at halftime.

If we can’t do better in the paint then we didn’t need to be in the semi-final game.”

The halftime talk did its job as Hobgood scored the first hoop of the third quarter, a putback by Sally Smith.

Lauren Lilley sank two foul shots and Jo Revelle Murray added another as Ridgecroft extended their lead to five (20-15).

Hobgood scored seven unanswered points to take a 22-20 advantage.

Liley’s basket with 30 seconds left in the quarter tied the score at 22.

After shooting 7-of-8 from the free throw line in the first half the Lady Rams struggled in the third, shooting only 37 percent (3-of-8).

“We came out flat,” explained Lady Rams’ head coach Doug Cobbs.

“We picked it up, but couldn’t make any free throws.”

Baskets by Roberson and Morgan Clark extended the Hobgood lead to four. Lilley made the back end of a pair of free throws but Roberson made two and Jamie Vanderford sank one foul shot for Hobgood.

Smith put Clark’s pass in the hoop for two and an eight point Lady Raiders lead (31-23).

Two April Piland free throws pulled Ridgecroft within six.

Bobbi Steward scored a deuce and Smith added a foul shot for Hobgood.

Jessica Bolton netted two free throws but Hobgood scored the next five points, extending their lead to 12 (39-27).

Murray’s trey with 22 seconds remaining was the Lady Rams only basket of the quarter, but was answered by three Hobgood free throws as the Lady Rams fell to Hobgood, 42-30.

Lilley’s double-double led Ridgecroft as the senior scored 11 points and pulled down 10 boards.

“I think we were over-ready,” said Cobbs.

“They wanted it to bad.”

Roberson led Hobgood with 12 points followed by Vanderford with 10.

Lady Raiders (42):

Corie Roberson n 12, Jamie Vanderford n 10, A. McDowell n 5, S. Smith n 5, M. Clark n 5, B. Stewart n 2

Lady Rams (30):

Lauren Lilley n 11, J. Murray n 8, H. Bryant n 5, J. Bolton n 4, A. Piland – 2