GATESVILLE – Even with as many as three Perquimans defenders draped all over her, Gates County High’s Kaila Ballard was still able to shake free and finish with 33 points to help the Lady Red Barons to a 60-41 win for their 11^th win of the year and sixth win in conference.

In addition to Ballard’s 33 points, Alaysia White scored ten with five for Jaiven Knight and four each for Jennifer Herman, Victorya Randolph and Loni Askew.

Amber Stallings led Perquimans with 13 points while Sarah Marriner had ten.

“We knew what was coming,” said Gates coach Keli Boone. “They double-teamed Kaila the whole game and while she’s certainly a great player our other players stepped up and played well for us.”

Chyna Elliott’s three-pointer gave the Lady Pirates their only lead of the game at 3-2 in the first quarter.  Knight’s lay-up later broke a 6-6 tie and gave Gates County a lead it would not surrender for the rest of the contest.  A jump shot by White had the Lady ‘Barons in the lead, 11-8 after one period of play.

In the second quarter Perquimans trailed by four, 16-12, before Gates went on a 7-2 run to lead by a dozen, 24-12.  A Pirate free throw had it an 11-point deficit at halftime, 24-13.

Ballard picked up a second foul early in the second half and sat out a spell.  Perquimans was able to counter Gates during that time and cut the Red Barons’ lead to seven, 34-27.  Ballard would return late in the third quarter and it ended with the ‘Barons ahead by 11, 38-27.

Gates’ fourth quarter lead benefitted them the rest of the game as Perquimans never could get the lead below 11 the rest of the way.  The double-teaming of Ballard just made for a parade by her to the free-throw line where she made five-of-six down the stretch.  The Pirates had no answer for her in the end, accounting for a 19-point Gates win.

GatesCounty (11-1, 6-0, C-10) hits the road for its next two games at Mattamuskeet and at Plymouth.