Defensive intensity, which Northwestern girls coach John Bramlett constantly preaches, was very visible for the Trojans, who cruised past Rock Hill, 71-39, in Region 3-AAAA action Friday at Rock Hill's gymnasium.

What came with the defensive effort was a sizzling shooting touch from the perimeter. Northwestern drained seven 3-pointers as six different players were able to connect from long-range.

"Our girls understand that we always have to play defense in the league that we are in," Bramlett said. "We have to do that because we usually cannot score consistently in the half-court. But tonight, we did."

Rock Hill, which fell to 8-10 and 0-4 in the league, was never able to mount a comeback.

Guard Iesha Love, who nailed two 3-pointers, led the Lady Trojans with 12 and Ikeia Miller followed with 10.

Northwestern - Iesha Love 12, Aubriana Thompson 9, Sha'shay Alexander 9, Whitney Conner 2, Cayse Branyon 3, Natalie Henderson 5, Paige Samuelson 5, Savannah Jones 6, Mariah McCoy 8, Courtney Cunningham 2, Ikeia Miller 10.

Rock Hill - Anita Jones 7, Zakiya Knox 4, Leya Watkins 1, Asia Potts 6, Jerieka English 4, Shaunte Young 5, Jasmine Crockett 12.

3-pointers - Northwestern 7 (Love 2, Thompson 1, Alexander 1, Branyon 1, Henderson 1, McCoy 1), Rock Hill 1 (Crockett 1).

Team fouls - Northwestern 21, Rock Hill 14. Fouled out - Young (RH)

Records: Northwestern 14-3, 2-2 in Region 3-AAAA; Rock Hill 8-10, 0-4 in Region 3-AAAA.

Clover 49, Lancaster 32: The Blue Eagles continued their winning ways in region play by defeating the Bruins.

Clover was led by Bria Huffman's 15. Lauren Richardson and Telliya Patron added 10 points each. Kyia Hugh had 14 for Lancaster.

Clover jumped out to a 17-6 lead after one quarter, thanks to an aggressive defense that gave them a number of transition baskets. Lancaster, led by Hugh, closed the gap to 25-21. Clover, led by Huffman and Patton, helped the Blue Eagles extend their lead to 41-28 after three quarters.

Lee McManus

Lancaster - Kyia Hugh 14, Sharon Brunson 5, Claudia Nivens 5, Phoebe Johnson 4, Shareese Ross 4.

Clover - Bria Huffman 15, Lauren Richardson 10, Telliya Patton 10, Logan Ballard 6, Aaliyah Knox 4, Elizabeth Edwards 2, Gadsden Lefft 2.

3-pointers - Lancaster 1 (Nivens 1), Clover 0.

Team fouls - Lancaster 16, Clover 11. Fouled out - None.

Records: Lancaster 6-9, 3-4 in Region 3-AAAA; Clover 13-4, 4-0 in Region 3-AAAA.

Fort Mill 46, Nation Ford 38: The Jackets waited five years to finally taste victory over their crosstown rival for the first time.

Fort Mill rallied from being down 31-21 in the third quarter and went 16 of 20 at the foul line in the fourth quarter. The Jackets attempted just two field goals in the final period, and hit them both.

"Free throws won that game," said Fort Mill head coach Christene Benyak. "Our goal was to keep them under 40."

Nation Ford turned the ball over eight times in the final period and struggle with its shot going 3-of-14 in the fourth quarter.

Ross led Fort Mill with 16 points, 11 of which came in the fourth quarter as she went 9 of 10 from the foul line.

Mac Banks

Nation Ford - Kai McCorvey 14, Zharne Glover 10, Taylor Yarborough 4, Ellen Bright 4, Katie Bright 4, Paris Bankole 2.

Fort Mill - Carley Ross 16, Rae Lynch 12, Arianna Grevious 8, Lauren Wood 6, Ally Abbott 2, Bri Stepney 2.

3-pointers - Nation Ford 2 (Glover 2), Fort Mill 4 (Lynch 3, Ross 1).

Team fouls - Nation Ford 23, Fort Mill 10. Fouled out - None.

Records: Nation Ford 9-8, 3-1 Region 4-AAA; Fort Mill 8-9, 3-1 Region 4-AAA.

York 37, South Pointe 36: According to York coach Paula Blackwell, the regular season that her team struggled through was just a warmup for region play.

Friday's victory was York's third straight.

"I kept telling this team to believe in themselves and not get down," Blackwell said. "Region play is what truly matters, and while South Pointe always gives a great game, we battled hard just like we have all season long."

Jason Chisari

York - Ashanti Wilson 10, Brittany Cannon 9, Lilasha Dervin 8, Kelondra Lytle 4, Carrie Lee Lancaster 4.

South Pointe - Ashley Jaggers 19, Sierra Gilmore 5, London Minor 3, Deiona Davis 3, Taylor Madsen 3, Jacovia Cherry 3.

3-pointers - York 5 (Dervin 2, Wilson 2, Cannon 1), South Pointe 3 (Minor 1, Madsen 1, Cherry 1). Team fouls - York 8, South Pointe 14. Fouled out --None.

Records: South Pointe 4-13, 0-4 in Region 4-AAA; York 6-12, 3-1 in Region 4-AAA.