The North Moore High School basketball teams earned a split in their two Yadkin Valley Conference games against Chatham Central High School at Robbins on Friday.

The Mustang girls lost to a strong Chatham Central team by a score of 57-49 in the first game of the evening, and the North Moore boys' defeated Chatham Central in the nightcap in an overtime game, 62-58.

In the girls' game, North Moore led by six points at the end of the first quarter, 16-10, but the Bears outscored the Mustangs, 22-9 during the second quarter to take a seven-point lead at the half, 32-25.

Chatham Central dominated play in the third period, and increased its lead to 16 points. The Mustangs rallied in the fourth quarter and narrowed the gap to eight points, but were unable to get closer.

"We're using Chatham Central as a measure of how good we are right now," said Mustang coach Sammy McNeill following the game. "I think we played pretty well tonight, especially in that last quarter."

Jessica Curtis led Chatham Central with a game-high 26 points. Sapha Varkey and Becka Bolton each contributed 14 points for the Bears.

Brittany Harper was high for North Moore with 11 points, and Allison Braswell added nine points for the Mustangs.

North Moore's record dropped to 6-3 (1-1 conference) for the season. The Mustangs are scheduled to participate in the Christmas tournament in Asheboro beginning next Wednesday.

In the boys' game, North Moore held a four-point lead at the end of the first quarter, 11-7, and increased the margin to seven points at the half. The score at the intermission was North Moore 25, Chatham Central 18.

The Bears came back strong in the third quarter and narrowed the gap to two points. North Moore led at the end of the third period, 36-34.

The Mustangs maintained that narrow lead through most of the fourth quarter, but a last-second basket tied the score at 49-all, and sent the game into overtime.

The Mustangs again took the lead in the overtime, and held a seven-point lead with five seconds remaining to be played, but a last second basket from mid-court cut North Moore's lead to four points as the game ended.

Jeffrey Goins led Chatham Central in scoring with a game-high 26 points, and Hunter McDaniel added 14 points for the Bears. Jerome Maness and Rashaad Brower had 15 and 14 points, respectively, for North Moore.

"From about the last two minutes of the third quarter on, we couldn't seem to do anything right," said Mustang coach, Chris Coble after the game. It wasn't pretty, but it was a win, and we'll take it. It feels good to be 2-0 in the conference at this point."

North Moore's record improved to 5-3 for the season.

The North Moore boys' basketball team is scheduled to play in the Christmas tournament at Ashebore beginning Dec. 27.