PINETOWN — Two-thousand and eight. It’s a number head coach Michelle Leathers cherishes, it being the Northside record for most points scored in a career.

On Friday, prior to the Panthers’ game against Jones Senior, Leathers’ points guard protégée was honored for reaching a milestone of her own. Senior Alex Adams stepped front and center and was given a souvenir basketball marked “1,000” to honor her recent achievement.

“It’s a big accomplishment and she works hard to get us points,” Leathers said. “Hey, she’s one of the leaders in the school and on the floor.”

The game that followed, however, would soon dampen the mood. A second-half comeback from Northside was stalled in the final minutes, as the Trojans escaped Pinetown with a 47-44 win.

“We’re missing that number two, everyone is indecisive about passing the ball and those who were open weren’t making shots,” Leathers said after the game. “You can’t keep depending on Alex and you need to knock some shots down to free her up a little bit more.”

Fittingly, Adams started the game off by draining two contested three-pointers on the first two possessions, but the Trojans defense soon adjusted. The guards pressured the senior point guard on the perimeter, forcing others to carry much of the offensive load. And after Adams’ threes, the Panthers’ were unable to convert from the floor.

Jones Senior’s Latrina Gatling was the difference in the first half, draining nearly every shot she took and burning the Panthers’ defenders in the half court. Rachel Lang and Quartasia Clark chipped in to help keep their team in the game, but Jones Senior held a commanding 27-19 lead at the half.

Out of the break, Gatling’s hot hand was silenced, held to just two points in the third quarter, while Northside began to chip away at the deficit. Adams found Rachel Lang and Kelsey Lang open at mid-range and the sister duo hit a couple of shots, but as a whole, Northside continued to shoot a low percentage form the field.

Heading into the final quarter, the Panthers were down just five and with both teams in the bonus, the Trojans would have to win the game at the charity stripe. After cutting the lead to three, Adams stepped back and drained a three to tie the game at 41. On the ensuing possession, Clark tied the game again with a rebound and a put back, but a moving pick violation cost the Panthers a chance to take their first lead since the first quarter. Jones Senior went on to close the game at the free throw line.

With the loss, Northside drops to (5-11, 2-7 CPC) and will face Lejeune on the road Monday evening.

With just two games remaining, Leathers is seeking growth and leadership in her younger players.

“We need to work hard, knock some shots down and prepare for next year,” she said. “We need to get out in the summer and work. That’s something people don’t understand … Alex worked all summer.”