For the first time in school history, Southeast Alamance will play for a girls basketball state championship.

Southeast Alamance beat Seaforth 48-45 in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2A eastern regional championship game at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem on Thursday afternoon.

The two teams exchanged leads 11 times over the course of the game and neither team led by more than eight points. Southeast Alamance led much of the first half, holding a 24-23 lead at halftime.

Seaforth found its shot in the third quarter though. The Hawks hit four 3-pointers, including three from Katie Leonard, to extend its lead to eight points. But Southeast Alamance battled back. Clara LaChapelle scored six points in the quarter and Natalie Lopez scored five more, closing the gap to 39-38 at the end of the quarter.

The Stallions built a lead in the fourth quarter. Shaniya Paylor and LaChapelle hit jumpers to give Southeast Alamance a one-point lead at the midpoint of the quarter. Then after Gabby White split a pair of free throws to tie the game at 43-43 for Seaforth, Lopez hit a 3-pointer to push the Stallions’ lead to three points. It was a lead the Stallions would not lose.

Southeast Alamance led 46-45 with 42 seconds left when Seaforth put Paylor at the line for two free throws. She hit both, extending the Southeast Alamance lead to 48-45.

On Seaforth’s next possession, the Stallions were able to get a jump ball, giving them the ball back with 23 seconds left. Seaforth fouled Paylor again, but this time she missed both free throws giving the Hawks another chance down three points. The Hawks’ last ditch effort at a 3-pointer failed though, as Southeast Alamance survived.

Southeast Alamance held Seaforth to just two field goals and six points in the fourth quarter.

LaChapelle led Southeast Alamance in scoring with 16 points. Inysia McIver posted 11 points and Paylor scored 10 points to lead the Stallions.

Leonard led Seaforth in scoring with 14 points, 11 of which came in the third quarter. Mia Moore finished with 11 points and White posted 10 points.

This was the fourth meeting between these two teams this season. Both members of the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A Conference, they split their meetings in the regular season. Seaforth beat Southeast Alamance in the third meeting, which came in the conference tournament championship game.

The appearance in the 2A state championship game is the first in program history for the Stallions. Southeast Alamance will face the winner of East Burke and North Wilkes in the state championship game.

Seaforth will end itse season with a record of 28-3. Of its three losses, two of them came at the hands of Southeast Alamance.