PINETOWN — Having led for much of the game on Friday, the Northside girls basketball team let its lead over Cape Hatteras slip away midway through the fourth quarter, but thanks to some stingy team defense and clutch plays late in the game from Prentiss Thomas, the Panthers emerged victorious on their home debut, 40-36.

“We just had to dig down deep and try to pull this win out,” Northside head coach Michelle Leathers said. “Play some defense, play smart at the (defensive) end, because we had a few people that were in foul trouble. So a lot had to come from deep within.”

Having led since the second quarter, Northside (2-0 1A Coastal Plains Conference) saw Cape Hatteras (1-5 1A Atlantic 5 Conference) take a 34-33 lead with 4:16 left in the game, after sloppy play with the ball by the Panthers led to turnovers and allowed the Hurricanes to chip away at the six-point lead Northside held heading into the fourth quarter.

Gabby Slade tied the game at 34-34 for Northside by hitting a free throw with 4:07 remaining, but the Hurricanes retook the lead, 36-34, with 2:17 remaining. What made Cape Hatteras taking the lead so late in the game particularly frustrating for Northside was the fact the Panthers were hurting themselves and easily could’ve had a healthy lead, if not for missed free throws. In fact, Northside missed nine free throws in the fourth quarter alone that would’ve distanced the Panthers from the Hurricanes.

Fortunately for Northside, Thomas sank hers when her team needed them most. The following possession after the Hurricanes retook the lead, Thomas responded by driving to the basket and drawing contact for the foul. The guard/forward hit both and drew a charge on Cape Hatteras’ next possession, giving the ball right back to the Panthers and pumping up the Northside bench.

Thomas continued her aggressive approach, drawing two more fouls in the final 1:30 of the game, sinking all four of her free throws to give Northside a 40-36 lead. Along with clutch shooting at the charity stripe, Thomas forced two turnovers down the stretch to assure her team of victory.

“She (Thomas) stepped up,” Leathers said. “We talked about that in the dressing room, get in there, take a charge and it’s time to step up and play the game of basketball.”

The Panthers next play tomorrow, heading to Washington to take on the Pam Pack at 6 p.m.