The end of the basketball season is near. Friday marked the end of the regular season for Washington, Northside and Southside. Terra Ceia and Pungo clashed on Saturday for the Tarheel Independent Conference.

The Panthers and Seahawks met in Pinetown on Friday. The doubleheader saw the Lady Seahawks grind out a 55-43 win, but the momentum couldn’t carry them to a home win in the first round of the 1-A Coastal Plains Conference tournament.

Momentum is at a premium at this point in the season. Only a few of Beaufort County’s teams are primed to make waves in the postseason, so it was important for those teams to finish the regular season with a win.

 

JASON PASTORE, NORTHSIDE

Northside coasted past Southside, 92-56, on Friday’s senior night game against rival Southside. That wasn’t the story of the game, though. Four-year team manager Jason Pastore got to play in the game.

Pastore lived up to the hype that came with the Panther faithful cheering his name throughout the game. He entered the game in the fourth quarter. He drew a shooting foul almost immediately, and converted both his chances at the line. He finished his first and only game with three points.

 

TYLER HENDRIX, TERRA CEIA

Even with a slow start to Saturday’s title game against Pungo, Tyler Hendrix and the Knights cruised to another TIC crown. Terra Ceia won its two games by a combined 115 points.

Hendrix posted a triple-double against Hobgood and wasn’t far from another one against the Raiders. He had 22 points, 19 rebounds and 11 assists against Hobgood. Against Pungo, he finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, eight steals and six assists. He was the third leading scorer in each game.

 

DANIELLE RUFFIN, SOUTHSIDE

Three Lady Seahawks scored at least 10 points as Southside spoiled Northside’s senior night on Friday. Danielle Ruffin scored a game-high 20 points, making all five of her shot attempts from the field.

In a game that was dictated by fouls, Ruffin also did well to take advantage of her opportunities at the charity stripe. She made 9-of-13, which was the best rate of any Southside player.

 

RASHOD SMITH, NORTHSIDE

Freshman point guard Rashod Smith had two double-doubles as Northside won its last two regular-season games last week. The Panthers topped Lejeune and Southside, ending the season right in the middle of the Coastal Plains standings.

Smith had 16 points, which tied Atia Shamseldin for the team high, and 11 assists against Lejeune. He followed that up nicely with 12 points and 10 assists in Friday’s rivalry matchup.