MERRY HILL – After the first quarter it looked as if Terra Ceia Christian Academy would take an easy victory over Northeast Academy.

Trailing 17-3, the Lady Eagles came roaring back in the final three quarters of the second round matchup in the Tarheel Independent Conference tournament to give the Lady Knights a run for their money before falling 70-65.

Northeast was led by senior Jeannie Hargrave, who scored a game-high 32 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.

Fellow senior Joanna Boone followed with 13 points, including four three-pointers.

“During the first quarter we were nervous because we knew we were playing a really good team,” said Hargrave.

“I tried to calm everyone down and get everyone’s head into it.

Our shots started falling and we played really good as a team.”

Hargrave got Northeast started in the second with two foul shots.

Brittany Wade put Boone’s pass in for two, cutting the Terra Ceia lead to 10 (17-7).

Kalissa Van Vuren scored a hoop then Hargrave answered with two foul shots.

Edwards forced a turnover which Hargrave took in for the deuce.

The teams traded basket over the final four minutes.

Hargrave’s basket at the buzzer pulled Northeast within five (30-25) at the half.

Edwards took the ball coast-to-coast for the score, but was answered by Mariah Van Essendelft.

The Lady Eagles went on an eight-point run, ending with Wade taking a steal to the hoop.

The run pulled Northeast within two (37-35).

Cantrell’s bucket ended the scoring run and Jillian Van Essendelft added a foul shot to extend the Lady Knights lead to five.

Hargrave scored after grabbing an offensive rebound then added two foul shots and another bucket to pull Northeast within one (40-39).

London Harrell stole the ball under the Lady Eagles basket and kicked it out to Hargrave who threaded the defense for the go-ahead basket.

Boone’s foul shot gave Northeast a two-point advantage.

M. Van Essendelft’s bucket tied the score at 42.

The Lady Knights scored seven unanswered points over the final seconds of the third and early in the fourth to take a 49-42 advantage.

Callie Burgess sank two foul shots, Hargrave took a steal to the hoop and Edwards scored just inside the three-point line to cut the Terra Ceia lead to one (49-48).

Cantrell’s bucket was answered when Hargrave converted a three-point play to tie the score at 51. The teams traded baskets before the Lady Knights scored six straight points for a 59-53 advantage.

Back-to-back threes by Edwards and Boone tied the score and Hargrave sank a foul shot for a one-point advantage.

Terra Ceia scored the next eight points for a 67-60 lead.

Edwards made two foul shots and Boone hit her fourth trey but it wasn’t enough as Terra Ceia sank three foul shots and took the 70-65 victory.

The win advanced the Lady Knights to the championship game of the Tarheel Independent Conference tournament tonight (Saturday).

Lady Knights (70):

Mariah Van Essendelft n 20, Jordan Cantrell n 19, Kalissa Van Vuren n 12, L. Van Essendelft n 6, K. Van Staalduinen n 3, J. Van Essendelft n 3, S. Ward n 3, S. Welti n 2, L. Ashley n 2

Lady Eagles (65):

Jeanie Hargrave n 32, Joanna Boone n 13, B. Edwards n 9, B. Wade n 4, C. Burgess n 4, L. Harrell – 3