The North Moore girls’ basketball team is in first place in the Yadkin Valley Conference standings with four games to go.

The Lady Mustangs (14-5, 10-2 YVC) pulled out another crucial conference road win Monday, this time against Albemarle (10-3, 9-2 YVC), 68-67.

Shakorya Brower led all scorers with 30 points, while Jalisa Davis had 15 and Tashonna Farmer had seven. North Moore led by as much as nine in the first quarter, but Albemarle came back, leading to a thrilling showdown at the end of the game. Albemarle took a one-point lead with 33 seconds left in the game. Brower stole an inbound pass and made a basket despite being fouled and hit the free throw to put her team up by two at 66-64.

The Mustangs extended the lead to 68-64, but Albemarle hit a three in the closing seconds to produce the final score. North Moore was able to run off the finals seconds to preserve the win.

Head coach  Sammy McNeill praised the defensive effort of Farmer, Davis, Holly Green and Jamie Garner as being the difference in the game.

North Moore is a half game ahead of Albemarle in YVC standings.

In the late game Monday, the Mustang boys fell to the Bulldogs 63-52.

Corbin Brock paced North Moore with 28 points, including four threes. Xavier Scotton had seven and Trevor Farquharson had six.

The loss dropped North Moore to 10-8 (7-5 YVC) on the season. Albemarle improved to 11-3 (9-2 YVC).

Both the boys and girls teams will complete their road trips at West Montgomery tonight and at Gray Stone Friday. They’ll then return home to finish out the regular season against South Stanly and North Rowan.