CHOCOWINITY č Katisha Hyman didn’t just rise to the occasion on Friday, she soared way beyond her normally high standard of play to score 21 fourth-quarter points and carry Southside to a 70-63 win over Ayden-Grifton in the sectional championship game of the NCHSAA 1-A playoffs.

Hyman drove, knifed and jump shot her way to a game-high 34 points to deliver the Seahawks (22-3) their first sectional crown since the 2002-03 season while advancing her team the District Round of the postseason.

Hyman scored the first five points of the game to give the No. 1 seeded Seahawks the lead in the first quarter. It would be a slim lead the team would cling to for a majority of the game.

The second-seeded Chargers (16-9, Carolina Conference) led by its star tandem of forwards Karen-nia Edmonds and Derrica Jones who scored 24 and 26 points, respectively, managed to keep their team within striking distance and cut the Seahawks’ lead to 46-45 entering the fourth quarter.

An Edmonds basket gave Ayden-Grifton a 48-46 advantage at the start of the fourth quarter, but Southside refused to let the game slip away.

A Hyman layup at the 5:33 mark tied the game up at 51 and kicked off a phenomenal 15-2 run in which Hyman scored 13 of the 15 points. That stretch of basketball was highlighted by two Hyman three-point plays, the second of which came on a long jump shot from the left side of the court. Managing to keep her focus as she was falling to the ground, Hyman buried the long jumper and the ensuing free throw to take a 61-53 lead with 3:36 left in the game.

Southside coach Bill Lake wasn’t sure if this was the best game he had ever saw Hyman play, but he did say it ranks up there with her top performances.

“It’s darn close, but she has had several games like this, this season and last year,” Lake said. “She is just a player that rises up to the situation. “

The Hyman jumper was a huge boost for the Seahawks but Lake would not let his team drop its guard.

“It gave us a little breathing room but I kept telling the girls to stay focused,” Lake said. “They started getting excited and I was afraid they would let down before it was over.”

The Chargers made a mini-run and cut the lead to 68-63 but never got any closer.

Before Hyman’s astounding fourth-quarter effort, the Seahawks got a huge lift in the third quarter from center Deandria Purdue who scored 12 of the team’s third-quarter points to preserve the lead. Southside also got a great effort from Quaneika Thomas who tallied 10 points, and Chante Painter and Atyana Starkie, who each scored five points.

With the win, the Seahawks enter the District round of the playoffs where the remaining teams will be reseeded and a schedule will be set today.

Ayden-Grifton 14 14 17 18 č 63

Southside 17 15 14 24 č 70

Chargers (63

Karen-nia Edmonds 24, Little 6, Derrica Jones 27, Ellis 2, Baker 2, Carmon 1, Dillahunt 1.

Seahawks (70)

Katisha Hyman 34, Quaneika Thomas 10, Painter 5, Starkie 5, Stanbridge 3, Deandria Purdue 12.