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The South Davie and Wesleyan Christian Academy girls basketball teams have had a series of great battles in recent years, and last week was another.

The Trojans, though, have gotten the best of South lately. Last year they beat South by two in the conference tournament championship game, after the teams tied for first in the regular season. On Jan. 19, Wesleyan pulled out a 31-29 decision at South.

It was South with the upper hand early. Jayden Carter delivered six points to give the Tigers a 9-3 lead in the first quarter. Wesleyan countered with a 13-7 spurt in the second as the teams were tied at 16 at the half. It was 20-20 after the third.

South fell just short, evening its record at 1-1.

Emmy Johnson had 10 points, Makenzie Gentry eight and Carter seven. Raney Phelps and Taitiyuanna Torrence had two each.

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North Davie routed visiting Ellis 50-30 on Jan. 19. North improved to 2-0 while Ellis dropped to 0-2. Although the teams split two games last season, the Wildcats won for the seventh time in nine meetings.

North had balanced scoring, led by Avarie Martin’s 13. Jaden Sink had nine, Kaylee Lynch eight, Nadalie Jones seven, Raelyn Lankford six, Callie Wisecarver four and Hannah Meacham three.

Bailey Aderhold was amazing in defeat, scoring 18 points on six 3-pointers. Kaylee Lewis had 10 and Emmie Burris two.

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The Tigers rode a blistering first half to a 49-39 home win over North Davie on Jan. 21.

Gentry poured in nine points in the first quarter to lift South to a commanding 15-5 lead. The gap was 28-13 at halftime.

“The first half was one of the best halves of middle school girls basketball that I’ve seen in a while,” South coach Morgan Wyatt said. “We were hitting shots and working down low getting rebounds.”

The Wildcats cut into the margin in the third. With Kaylee Lynch and Jaden Sink providing offensive sparks, they cut their deficit to 35-26. But South (2-1) easily held on to raise its series winning streak to 16.

Gentry had 16. Phelps buried two 3-pointers and scored 12. Carter had nine. Johnson and Torrence had six apiece.

Sink paced North (2-1) with 12. Nadalie Jones had nine, Avarie Martin eight and Lynch six. Hannah Meacham and Callie Wisecarver had two.

“We’ve got to work more on on-ball pressure, but our guards are young and they do a good job listening and adjusting,” Wyatt said. “So I’m excited for the rest of the season.”

Notes: Ellis lost 32-18 at home to Wesleyan on Jan. 21. The Jaguars dropped to 0-3. Their scoring: Lewis 12, Aderhold 3, Quinn Cornatzer 2, Kayden Richardson 1.