The basketball regular season has come to a close. Beaufort County’s teams now set their sights on conference tournaments this week.

For some, tournaments are a way to gain favorable playoff seeding for next week. Others, without some good fortune this week, won’t be playing next week. Southside and Washington’s boys need nothing short of a miracle to run the table to earn a postseason bid.

Northside’s boys, Southside’s girls, and Washington’s girls are all in prime positions to make playoff runs. The Lady Panthers will likely earn a berth, but could benefit from a little boost this week.

Here are last week’s standouts and those to keep an eye on this week:

 

SYMONE RUFFIN, SOUTHSIDE

Southside stumbled a bit last week in a one-possession loss to Tarboro in its 1-A Coastal Plains Conference finale. However, the Lady Seahawks are playing good basketball right now.

That’s thanks, in part, to senior Symone Ruffin. She had a combined 46 points in wins over South Creek and Bear Grass. In the process, she notched her 1,000th career point.

 

TYSHAWN ROBERSON, WASHINGTON

Tyshawn Roberson did everything in his power to give his senior teammates a chance at a senior-night win. Washington went into its final game without a win in the 2-A Eastern Carolina Conference, but had a fighting chance down the stretch.

The Pam Pack junior dazzled like he did on special teams during football season. He was lights out from the perimeter in scoring 18 points in the second half. His shooting helped Washington get as close as one point, but it couldn’t finish the comeback.

 

DREW FERGUSON, WASHINGTON

Drew Ferguson trampled the competition at this weekend’s 2-A eastern-regional championship. He received a first-round bye and won the quarterfinal by fall. He went on to top opponents from rival Dixon and Croatan by major decision and decision, respectively.

Ferguson was one of five Pam Pack wrestlers to earn a trip to the state championships. Carson Asby and Logan Nichols each placed second in their respective weight classes. Henry Jennings earned bronze, and Mitchell Cobb took fourth.

CIERRA WIGGINS, WASHINGTON

Cierra Wiggins and the Lady Pack fizzled out a bit at the end of their senior-night game against West Craven. Washington went without a made shot in the fourth, but still managed to hang onto a 41-38 win.

Wiggins — as well as fellow seniors Hailey Respass and Tierra Wiggins — were key to the victory. She had 11 points in the game. That included a 2-for-2 trip to the charity stripe after a technical foul that essentially decided the game.

 

DEMETRIUS EBRON, SOUTHSIDE

Southside had a handful of big shots fall in last week’s senior-night win over South Creek. It was a hallmark moment for a Seahawks team that hadn’t won a 1-A Coastal Plains Conference game until then.

Senior Demetrius Ebron made a few of those game-changing plays. He had a four-point play after drawing a foul on a 3-pointer in the third quarter. He also completed a three-point play at the line down the stretch in the fourth. Ebron then made the decisive free throw late in the game.