LASKER – If the first three quarters had gone like the fourth, the Lady Eagles of Northeast Academy might have been able to upset undefeated Halifax Academy.

Northeast outscored the Lady Vikings 20-6 in the final eight minutes, but had dug themselves into such a hole they couldn’t pull out a win, falling 54-36.

“We were out-hustled and outplayed,” said Northeast Head Coach Joella Brown.

“The girls have got to want it more.

They (Halifax) are a good team, but we should have played better.”

The Lady Eagles took an early 4-2 lead after a basket and two foul shots by junior Betty Edwards.

Halifax scored the next 12 points to take a 14-4 lead at the end of the first quarter. Callie Burgess made the second of two foul shots to end the Halifax run.

The Lady Vikings scored the next eight points, extending their lead to 17 (22-5).

Senior Danielle Hallman scored in the paint for two Northeast points, but was answered by Jodi Williams.

Edwards dished to Burgess and Lacy Pfieffer, who both hit the basket, then took the ball coast-to-coast for a deuce, cutting the Halifax lead to 11 (24-13).

The Lady Vikings scored the final seven points of the half giving them a solid 31-13 lead.

Halifax picked up where they left off, scoring 15 unanswered points in the third quarter, including eight by Williams.

Northeast finally found the basket when Edwards scored from beyond the arc at the 1:51 mark. Burgess and Pfeiffer added baskets to keep the Eagles within 30 (48-18).

Halifax’s Terri Little scored after grabbing an offensive rebound to start the second.

Then it was Northeast’s turn to put together a scoring run.

Burgess scored six points and Hallman added three over the next three minutes to cut the Halifax lead to 23 (50-27). A bucket by Little ended the run but the Lady Eagles didn’t quit.

Hallman stole the ball and took it to the hoop for two. Edwards hit a foul shot and a trey, then dished to Hallman who scored a three-pointer.

Edwards then took a steal in for two, pulling Northeast within 14 (52-38). Little added two foul shots in the final seconds as time ran out on the Lady Eagles.

Edwards led Northeast with 15 points, 4 assists and three rebounds.

Burgess scored 11 points and pulled down eight boards while Hallman added 10 points and six rebounds.

Northeast’s struggles at the free throw line continued as they shot only 31 percent (5-of-16) from the charity stripe.

Halifax took a 26-13 win in the junior varsity game after jumping out to an 11-2 first quarter lead.

Ashton Liverman led the Lady Eagles with five points followed by Kaylen Rose and Taylor Cocke with four. Brooke Baker was Halifax’s leading scorer with eight points.

Lady Vikings (54): Jodi Williams n 18, Brittany Hammill n 9, Brittany Bowswer n 9, Sarah Long n 7, Terri Little n 6, Erin Fortier n 3, Ashley Sawyer n 2

Lady Eagles (38): Betty Edwards n 15, Callie Burgess n 11, Danielle Hallman n 10, Lacy Pfieffer – 2