The game began slow with missed baskets on both sides, resulting in a 6-5 East Wake Academy lead after the first quarter.

In the second quarter both teams began hitting their marks, but first-quarter foul trouble hampered the Eagles scoring threat and Clover Garden moved ahead by 3 points, 20-17.

The three points would prove to be the deciding factor in Clover Garden’s win. Both teams scored 28 points in a second half that was marked by lead changes and an all-out battle to establish control.

The Eagles (7-8, 3-3 Central Carolina Athletic League) had three players in double figures, including senior point guard Maylynn Hall with 12 points, senior guard Kirsty Siller with 11 and junior forward Ashleigh Pickett with 10. Sophomore guard Toni Lippman added 8 points, five rebounds and two steals to the East Wake Academy effort, while Liz Garrett led the team with two blocks.

“We played a good offensive game despite the foul trouble as Toni really picked up the scoring for us,” Eagle head coach Maurice Lock said. “Liz added five rebounds and two blocks on the defensive end. These sophomores really kept us in the game tonight when foul trouble and turnovers were beginning to take us out of it.”

Lock said it’s been a while since her team scored as much as it did in the loss — especially true of her upperclassmen.

“They were really aggressive on the offensive end and made a lot of good shots,” Lock said. “I hope that continues, but we got to play better defense with our feet and stop reaching for fools gold to have a more disciplined and steady defense. I am pleased with the effort, but we can improve on our defense moving forward.”