HAW RIVER, N.C. – When the lights were brightest, Seaforth’s experience in big games shined through.

The Hawks jumped out to an early lead and buried Southeast Alamance with a late run to secure the Mid-Carolina Conference Tournament championship, 60-46.

Gabby White scored 16 points to snap the Stallions’ 14-game win streak and break a tie for the league’s top seed in next week’s 2A East state playoffs.

Seaforth won the first meeting by three on its home floor, and a month later, Southeast Alamance returned the favor with a two-point victory.

From the jump, Seaforth got the start that it wanted. Katie Leonard and Peyton Collins dialed up corner threes to give the Hawks an instant 6-0 lead.

8 of Leonard’s 9 points came in the opening frame. It helped hold off Southeast’s Clara LaChapelle who fueled a 7-0 Stallion run for its lone lead of the game at 9-8.

Seaforth led 22-15 after one and 37-26 at the halftime break.

White opened the second period by relentlessly attacking the rim. It helped Seaforth bury 5 of its 7 three-point baskets in the first half. With the floor wide open, the Virginia recruit used the final moments of the quarter to pour in three buckets to extend Seaforth’s lead to double figures.

Southeast Alamance narrowed its deficit to as little as eight points in the second half, but Mia Moore sunk a three to cap off a Seaforth response that pushed its lead to as much as 17.

Three-point shooting ended up making a difference in the game. The Stallions connected on two shots from beyond the arc to the Hawks’ seven.

With the victory, Seaforth improves to 24-2 overall. It is projected to claim a Top-2 seed in the 2A East when brackets are released on Sunday. Southeast Alamance (23-3) has the third-best RPI in the region and will earn the top at-large bid in the bracket.

BOX SCORE
SEAF: 22-15-8-15 60
SEAL: 15-11-10-10 46

SCORING
SEAF: White 16, Collins 11, Moore 9, Leonard 9, Rozzell 7, Johnson 3, Morgan 2, Rodgers 2
SEAL: LaChapelle 20, Johnson 9, Paylor 8, Payton 3, McIver 3, Lopez 2

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