WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Allow the Stallions to introduce themselves.

Southeast Alamance, in just its second year of existence, has its first state championship in any sport.

They wasted no time making school history as they took the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2A girls basketball championship title with a 43-33 win over North Wilkes.

Saturday’s final at Lawrence Joel Memorial Coliseum, the last game of the 2024-25 girls basketball season, was a grind for both sides.

Neither North Wilkes (30-2) nor Southeast Alamance (29-3) hit double-figures in the second or third quarters.

The Vikings shot 12-of-48 from the field in the loss (25.0 percent) while the Stallions made 13-of-43 (30.2 percent) in the win. They each committed 17 turnovers.

The edge, perhaps, was which one could get to the free throw line more and make more. North Wilkes was 6-of-13 from the stripe, while the Stallions were 13-of-16.

“We’ve struggled a little bit on the free throw line all season and they were just clutch tonight,” coach Amy Surratt said.

Saniya Paylor (12 points, seven assists) was 6-of-6 from the free throw line, earning her the Kay Yow MVP as the top performer in the contest.

Southeast Alamance led 30-24 going into the fourth and 21-20 at halftime after both teams were tied 12-all in the first quarter.

Southeast Alamance was led by 14 points and 10 rebounds from Clara LaChapelle, who was named East MVP.

North Wilkes got 16 points from senior Ralee Bare, who was 5-of-12 from the field with four steals and five rebounds. Bare was named the West MVP.

“It wasn’t our best day,” North Wilkes coach Steven Phillips said. “Shots didn’t fall for us… 33 points is a good half for us most days.”

There have been schools who won basketball titles quicker — East Chapel Hill’s boys won the 3A title in their first year of existence. Southeast Raleigh also won the girls title in their second year.

On Thursday, top-seeded North Wilkes defeated second-seeded East Burke 60-36 in the 2A West regional final while 12th-seeded Southeast Alamance defeated second-seeded Seaforth 48-45 in the 2A East regional final. Those games were also at “the Joel” as part of the final four format.

Before the game, each team honored its sportsmanship award winner for the season: Chloe Torain from Southeast Alamance and Ralee Bare from North Wilkes.

BOX SCORE
NWIL 12-8-4-9 33
SEAL 12-9-9-11 43

North Wilkes: Kaykay Kinder 5, Meredith Tomko 6, Ralee Bare 16, Allie Farrington 2, Shalyn Bare 4
Southeast Alamance: Shaniya Paylor 12, Clara LaChapelle 14, Inysia McIver 3, Natalie Lopez 9, R’reanna Johnson 5