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The North Middle School Gatorettes lost to the Warren County Lady Pioneers 42-28 at Coffee County Middle Monday in a semifinal game for the Area 6AAA tournament.

The Gatorettes kept the score relatively close in the first half, but the Lady Pioneers pulled away after halftime to give North a loss to open the bracket.

The Lady Pioneers scored the first eight points of the game to create some early separation on the scoreboard.

North trailed 10-3 after one quarter.

The Gatorettes opened the second quarter with seven straight points as they tied the score at 10-10 on a layup by Kennedy Hall with four minutes left in the first half.

However, the Lady Pioneers put together another run of eight straight points to jump back ahead, and the Gatorettes trailed 19-12 at halftime. Gracen Baggett scored eight of North’s 12 points in the first half.

The Lady Pioneers maintained their momentum with an 11-1 run to start the third quarter which brought the deficit up to double digits for the first time. Shekinah Miller scored four of North’s six points in the third quarter.

The Gatorettes trailed 30-18 going into the final period.

The Gatorettes brought the deficit down to nine points midway through the fourth quarter, but they wouldn’t be able to get any closer as they went on to lose by 14.

Baggett led the Gatorettes with 13 points for the game, followed by Kenzie Arnold and Miller with five points each.

Hall scored four points, and Sadie Hill scored one point.

With the loss, the Gatorettes moved to 9-6 on the season.

They will next play Thursday against Harris Middle School at Coffee County Middle in the third-place game for the Area 6AAA tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.