Union Pines came out fast and steady Friday in Fayetteville behind the one-two punch of Alex Parris and Tyler Ross to put away Douglas Byrd early in a 62-41 league hoops win.

The Vikes scored 24 points in the opening frame, including 13 from junior captain Ross and six from senior guard Parris.

After a scorching offensive effort, Union Pines picked it up on the defensive end in the second quarter to limit the Eagles (4-9, 3-4) to a single bucket. The visitors carried a commanding 40-17 led with them into the locker room at the end of the first half of action.

Ross had 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals at intermission, while her fellow captain, senior point forward Crystal Hicks, amassed five points, eight boards, seven assists and three steals through the midway point of the tilt.

With the victory Union Pines improved to 12-4 on the season, and remained in second place in the 3-A Cape Fear Valley Conference (CFVC) standings at 6-1, one game behind league-leading Southern Lee (14-2, 7-0)

After the break, the Vikings took the court for the second half and forged forward. A three-pointer by Parris gave Union Pines a 49-23 edge with 2:12 left to play in the third period. Soon after Hicks scored on a cut through the lane, she connected with her younger sister, 6-foot sophomore center Tiffany, who swished in a 17-footer that put the Lady Vikes up by 30.

C. Hicks finished the game with 11 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, six steals and two blocks. Parris also scored 11 for the Vikes, while Ross led the team in scoring with 19 points, to go along with 13 rebounds, four assists and three steals. T. Hicks chipped in with an eight-point, seven-rebound effort, while Vike junior guard Dasia McCrimmon had five points and seven rebounds on the night.

Tricia Ellerbe led the way for the home team, turning in a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double for Byrd.

Union Pines returns to action Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Spring Lake against an Overhills Jaguars squad (13-4, 5-2) that currently occupies the third spot in CFVC standings. The Vikes topped the Jags early last week by a 52-46 margin in a game played at Union Pines.

Union Pines 24 16 15 7 — 62

Douglas Byrd 15 2 8 16 — 41

Union Pines: Ross 9 1-3 19, C. Hicks 4 3-6 11, Parris 5 0-0 11, T. Hicks 4 0-0 8, Daley 3 0-0 7, McCrimmon 2 0-0 5, Evans 0 1-2 1. Totals 19 4-9 46.

Douglas Byrd: Ellerbe 6 0-0 12, Jones 3 2-3 9, Amerson 1 3-5 5, Trotman 2 1-2 5, Master 1 2-2 4, Pearson 2 0-0 4 Mitchell 1 0-1 2. Totals 16 8-13 41.

Three-point goals: UP 3 (Daley, McCrimmon, Parris) ; DB 1 (Jones).