WENDELL - When the Southeast Raleigh Lady Bulldogs stuttered in the first quarter against East Wake, the Lady Warriors seized on the opportunity and surged.

But they didn’t surge nearly enough. The lead the Bulldogs put together early was enough to hold on for 5-point victory, 47-42, on Friday.

Southeast coach Nicole Meyers credited a higher power for winning in the end.

“Prayer,” Meyers said, pulled her team through. “Our game against Clayton was a rough game, and this was our opportunity to redeem ourselves.”

Southeast (17-3, 11-1 Greater Neuse River 4A) entered the match up against East Wake (17-4, 10-2) a week after narrowly losing to Clayton 34-31 at home. The Bulldogs got off to a fast start, leaping to a 9-point, 14-5 lead in the first quarter.

The Warriors, who normally dominate their opponents from tip-off, appeared stunned as coach Toni Vick shouted “you all have to step it up.”

East Wake’s trademark, tough defense fell short as Southeast turned the defensive tables and grinding out points, leaving the court at halftime with a healthy 30-12 lead.

In the third quarter, the Warriors gained confidence and started hitting their stride, despite the Bulldogs’ aggressive play on both ends of the court.

At the end of the third quarter, it appeared the game was all but over. The Bulldogs held onto a 16-point lead.

But the Warriors were not ready to surrender. They turned on the steam defensively and held the Bulldogs to just 8 points in the fourth quarter while scoring 19 of their own.

The crowd filling East Wake’s gymnasium went wild as their home team threatened to steal the game from Southeast, and pulled the score to within 4 points with two minutes left on the clock.

Tianna Knuckles fouled out early in the fourth quarter and had to watch from the bench as Southeast completed a season sweep of East Wake. The Warriors were disappointed and upset, according to Vick.

“In the first half, we did not show up,” she said. “We got off to a slow start, but in the second half we were able to keep up our intensity and we changed the line up.”

But what might have been a solution for a lesser team didn’t work against Southeast, the top team in the Greater Neuse River Conference.

“We have got to show up for two halves and play both halves of basketball,” Vick said.

Meyers was relieved.

“I was pleased with the first half, but the second half not so much,” she said. “We lost our composure. Our team is one of the best in the state, but we mentally lost focus.”

Meyers also complimented East Wake.

“I have to give East Wake credit,” she said. “They are going to come back from this tougher and more aggressive because they are a good team.”

Scoring leaders were Alexus Hicks with 10 points and Nakia Harris with 8 for the Bulldogs.

On the Warriors’ side, Shakerrya Morrison led with 13 points, and Cierra Williams added 9.