In a contest that would go a long way in determining the final Yadkin Valley Conference standings and keep pace with league Chatham Central, the North Moore girls basketball team hosted South Davidson Friday. The visiting Lady Wildcats came into the contest in second place with two losses while the host Lady Mustangs were one game back with three losses.

With only three weeks left in the regular season, each game becomes more important than the previous game, especially games against one of the five teams battling for the regular-season league championship.

In a contest that saw several lead changes, a five-minute scoring drought by the Mustangs late in the third period and early fourth quarter enabled the Wildcats to run off 16 unanswered points, giving them a 46-42 victory

The loss drops the Mustangs to 7-4 in conference action and 10-8 overall, while South Davidson stays in second place with an 8-2 league mark and 11-6 overall.

After not playing a game in a week, North Moore came out sluggish, managing only six points in the first quarter and falling behind 10-6. A strong 15-0 run spearheaded by senior Shakorya Brower in the second period pushed the Mustangs to a seven-point lead at the break. Brower had 11 of her team-high 15 points going into the locker room with North Moore on top 24-17.

The two teams swapped buckets to start the second half with the Mustangs holding a 31-23 with 2:34 left in the third period.

Over the next four minutes and 56 seconds, the Mustangs couldn’t find the bucket while South Davidson ran off 16 straight points for a 39-31 edge with 5:38 left in the contest.

Brower broke the Mustangs’ drought with a driving lay-up. The Wildcats went on another surge, taking a 42-35 lead, but the Mustangs rallied for five straight points, including a three-pointer by junior Jessie Sheffield, pulling the Mustangs to within one point.

South Davidson ran off four straight points for a 46-39 lead before Cadie Lowe hit a trey with eight seconds left, pulling the Mustangs to within four points and the final margin.

The Mustangs travel to Gray Stone Tuesday for the first of four road games. The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

South Davidson 10 7 16 13 — 46

North Moore 6 18 7 11 — 42

South Davidson: Larsen Sigmon 0 0-2 0; Madison Sigmon 2 0-0 4; Holly Wall 4 1-3 9; Hunter Sigmon 3 2-5 8; Madi Beeson 3 0-0 6; Addie Grubb 8 1-3 19 Totals 15 4-11 46. Three-point goals (2 by Grubb)

North Moore: Shakorya Brower 6 3-4 15; Cadie Lowe 3 1-2 10; Kayla McNeill 2 1-2 5; Jessie Sheffield 3 0-0 8; Tiosha McCaskill 1 0-0 2; Tyisha Horn 1 0-0 2 Totals 16 5-8 42