Jeff Linville | The News

Surry Central’s Cassidy Joyner drives the baseline, draws the defense and finds Sarah Bruce for an easy two against Winston-Salem Prep. Bruce led all scorers with 18 points.

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DOBSON — The Lady Eagles used a 7-0 run in the third quarter to create some breathing room in a 57-42 win over Winston-Salem Prep Wednesday.

Surry Central led 35-32 before Sarah Bruce and Kristin Key scored to give the Eagles a double-digit cushion at 42-32. The Lady Phoenix could get no closer than eight the rest of the way.

Prep led for most of the first quarter before Brittany Lewis converted inside and then on an 18-footer from the right wing to tie the game at 15-all going into the second.

Courtney Hegler scored to open the next quarter for a 17-15 lead. After Prep retook the lead at 18-17, she made a free throw and then an inside basket for a 20-18 lead.

That was part of an 8-0 run as Marlee Wilmoth and Cassidy Joyner also scored.

At halftime, Central led 26-21.

Phoenix center Celia Tibbs went to the bench with foul trouble. Bruce used her quickness advantage against backup center Kristian Saunders to score eight points on her way to a game-high 18.

Prep called a timeout with 1:03 left in the third after Central went up 42-32. Saunders scored twice inside in the final minute to make it 44-36.

Wilmoth, Hegler and Bruce scored to open the third, and Central never looked back.

After Bruce’s 18, Hegler had 10 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Joyner scored eight points, grabbed eight boards and four steals, and handed out three assists.

Wilmoth scored eight and Brittany Lewis six, and they each grabbed three rebounds. Lewis also blocked two shots.

Tess Dockery scored four points and Key three.

Kayla Robinson and Mychala Wolfe scored nine each to lead the Phoenix.

“This was great team basketball,” said Coach Mandy Holt. “Our whole team played great defense.”

Dockery and Marlee harassed the guards outside, Holt said, and Bruce did a great job inside despite giving up lots of size. Kristin Key gave valuable minutes off the bench, she added.

“I thought we held our composure,” she said. “We were ready for them to throw some traps at us.” That is the sign of a maturing team that they didn’t get rattled, she noted.

The Eagles improved to 14-7, 7-6 in the Northwest Conference. The team will travel to North Stokes (2-20) on Friday.