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Two local teams collected wins on Tuesday night in opening round action of the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association’s basketball tournament.

In Lasker, Northeast Academy’s girls raced out to a 21-7 lead by the end of the first quarter en route to a 63-26 rout of Crossroads Christian School.

The Lady Eagles led 34-16 at halftime and put the game on ice by outscoring their guests 29-10 in the second half.

Led by 15 points each from Allie Liverman and Emalee Jones, NEA placed four players in double figures as Jessie Martin added 14 while Savannah Martin tallied 11 points.

Hope Macklin led Crossroads Christian with 12 points.

Northeast (6-5 overall) was scheduled to travel to fourth-seeded Christ Covenant School for a second round game on Thursday. However, a COVID-19 issue at Christ Covenant School forced them to drop out of the state tournament.

The Lady Eagles will automatically advance to Saturday’s (Feb. 20) third round where they will meet the winner of top-seeded and unbeaten Pungo Christian Academy and Lawrence Academy. The location of that contest and the tip-off time will be determined after Thursday’s game between Pungo and Lawrence.

Ridgecoft School’s varsity boys also played their NCISAA play-off opener at home on Tuesday where the Rams built a 52-20 halftime lead and never looked back in a 90-58 thumping of Lawrence Academy.

Justin Peterson and Baron Chamblee each scored 18 points to pace Ridgecroft. Twelve of Chamblee’s points came from behind the three-point arc where he connected on 4-of-6 shots from long range.

Caleb Porter had a “double-double” performance (15 points and 10 rebounds) while Sawyer Chamblee added 10 points.

Rounding out the Ridgecroft scoring were Garrett Brown (8), Michael Brown (6), Lane Slachta (4), Preston Edwards (3), and Avery Jernigan (2).

Sawyer Mizelle poured in a game-high 22 points to lead Lawrence. Drew Pippens (18) and Tayloe Powell (11) also scored in double figures for the Warriors.

Ridgecroft (10-2 overall) advances to face third-seeded Community Christian School (7-4 overall) on Thursday in Wilson.