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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record

When Davie’s varsity girls basketball team led No. 2 East Forsyth 23-14, when top-seeded Davie led 35-30 in the fourth quarter, the War Eagles seemed destined for their first CPC Tournament title in 22 years.
But victory was snatched from their grasp in the most soul-crushing way possible. They led virtually all game until the last 90 seconds. After capturing the regular-season crown for the first time since 2002-03, they settled for tournament runner-up after a 42-38 heartbreaker. The championship game was held at Reagan on Feb. 21.
“I told them they’ve got to feel it,” coach Lindsey Adams said of the somber, tearful postgame locker room. “I’m not one to sugarcoat it. It makes you want it more in the years to come, and they need to feel that for 24 hours. It sucks whatever emotions they were feeling – sad, angry, disappointed.”
Davie took control at the beginning of the game. Londyn McDowell drove the baseline and converted a reverse layup. After Gracie Shore finished a drive with a lefthanded kiss off the glass, McDowell reversed again and hit a circus shot. When Emmie Burris drained a 3, Davie had a 19-14 halftime lead.
Davie had its biggest lead at 23-14 when Bailey Aderhold scored on penetration. East rallied to tie it at 29, but Shore quickly put Davie back ahead with another lefty finish at the rim. McDowell and Vivian Vaughters went 4 for 4 from the foul line to provide the 35-30 lead.
But – and this is a big “but” – the War Eagles flamed out from there and would lose in nightmare style.
“We had it,” Adams said. “Yes, we’re young, but we practice end-of-game scenarios all the time. They knew the game plan. We have been in that situation and we’ve won against Reagan and Tabor.”
East closed the game on a 12-3 run. When it was 36-35 with 4:23 remaining, East had its first lead since 6-5.
Aderhold, an 82-percent free-throw shooter, made 3 of 4 from the stripe to give Davie a 38-37 lead. The War Eagles got a stop and had the ball with the lead at 1:25, only to turn it over. East missed and Martin grabbed the board at 1:12. Adams ordered the delay offense, but Davie had another breakdown in a critical situation.
East intercepted a pass near halfcourt and sprinted to the other end for a 39-38 lead at :35. Davie missed its eighth straight field goal and East sent its crowd into a frenzy by hitting a backbreaking 3 at :27.
East, which came in 22 percent from the 3-point line, was 0 for 17 from deep before hitting the dagger that made it 42-38. The War Eagles were undermined by 8-of-18 foul shooting and rebounding; East attempted 13 more shots than Davie.
“We gave up 19 offensive boards and that’s something we’ve not had to dial in on because our offense has been able to outscore opponents,” Adams said. “When it comes down to a gritty game like that, every possession matters. We missed 10 free throws.”
Notes: McDowell had 10 points and seven rebounds. Shore had seven points and seven rebounds. Vaughters had four points and six rebounds. … The offenses didn’t exactly sparkle. Davie went 13 of 43 for 30 percent. East shot 18 of 56 for 32 percent. They went a combined 3 of 31 from 3. … The teams split in the regular season, with Davie winning by six and East winning by two. … East improved to 19-5. … The War Eagles, who were riding their longest winning streak (eight) in 10 years, slipped to 19-7. They were the CPCT runner-up for the second year in a row. … Davie hosted a first-round playoff game on Feb. 25.
East Forsyth 42, Davie 38 – Londyn McDowell 10, Gracie Shore 7, Bailey Aderhold 5, Makenzie Gentry 5, Avarie Martin 4, Vivian Vaughters 4, Emmie Burris 3.