Rolesville’s girls basketball team is going to the regional championship game for the first time in their school’s history.

Caitlyn Jones led Rolesville to a 50-44 victory against Chapel Hill in the fourth round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A state playoffs on Friday night, contributing 25 points to the team’s win.

Rolesville had a 12-point advantage during the fourth quarter, which was the biggest lead they had in the entire game. However, Chapel Hill was able to gradually reduce the gap in the remaining minutes.

A technical foul provided Chapel Hill with an opportunity to lessen the difference to six points with 2:17 remaining, as Rolesville was ahead with a score of 45-39. The missed free throws by Rolesville kept the possibility of a comeback open for Chapel Hill. During the fourth quarter, Rolesville only made 3 out of 13 attempts from the free throw line.

At the one minute and 15 second point in the game, Camryn Lee was disqualified for Rolesville due to fouling. Jay Green successfully made one of two free throws for the Tigers, bringing Chapel Hill’s score to 45-40.

That was the closest Chapel Hill got though. Ultimately, two free throws from Taliya Rowe with 38 seconds left helped Rolesville seal the win. Jones split another pair for free throws with 27.2 seconds left to put the Rams up 50-44 — which became the final score.

Scoring points proved challenging in the first half of the game. Chapel Hill’s initial basket came with just over five minutes remaining, and Rolesville had a slim 7-4 advantage. After the first quarter, the Rams were up 17-14.

In the beginning of the second quarter, the roles of the teams were highly respected. Rolesville had a dry spell for almost three minutes, leading Chapel Hill to briefly take the lead 18-17. However, Rolesville bounced back with a 6-0 run and maintained the lead for the rest of the game, holding Chapel Hill scoreless for around five minutes of the second quarter.

Rolesville was leading 26-21 at the end of the first half.

Rolesville extended their lead in the third quarter, with Laila Lewis sinking a three-pointer right at the end of the quarter to put the score at 45-35.

The lead proved crucial as Rolesville had difficulties with free throws in the fourth quarter. Despite this, the Rams were able to do just enough to fend off Chapel Hill and secure the victory.

Jones scored the most points with 25 in the game. Rowe contributed 11 points for the Rams, while Lewis scored nine points.

Ashton Beale was the top scorer for Chapel Hill, recording 14 points. Laynie Smith also contributed with 11 points, while Eva Smith scored 10 points.

The current record for Rolesville is 25 wins and 5 losses. Next week, they will compete in the eastern regional championship game at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem. The Rams will go up against Hoggard for a chance to advance to the 4A state championship.

Chapel Hill’s season ends with the loss to Rolesville. The Tigers posted a 25-5 record.

Source: highschoolot.com