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Northeast Academy outscored Ridgecroft School, 12-2, in the third quarter en route to a 43-28 win on Tuesday night in a varsity girls semifinal game in the Tarheel Independent Conference basketball tournament.

Northeast, seeded third and now 5-3 overall, will meet top seeded Pungo Christian Academy (11-1 overall and unbeaten in conference play at 7-0) on Friday, Feb. 12 in the tournament championship. That title game is set for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off at the Ridgecroft gym.

To get to the championship game, Northeast had to defeat second-seeded Ridgecroft, a team that had just defeated the Lady Eagles, 52-44, in last Friday’s regular season finale.

Trailing 17-16 at halftime of Tuesday’s semifinal, Northeast turned up the defensive pressure in the third quarter, holding Ridgecroft to only two points while the Lady Eagles built a 28-19 lead.

Northeast was led by 13 points from Emalee Jones and 11 from Jessie Martin.

Allie Liverman (8), Gracie Baker (7), and Savannah Martin (4) rounded out the Northeast scoring.

Camryn Joyner led Ridgecroft with eight points.

In middle school basketball action, both Ridgecroft teams advanced to the tournament finals with wins over Northeast: 34-13 in the girls contest and 34-24 in boys action.