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The North Middle School Gatorettes beat the Harris Eaglettes 31-20 at Coffee County Middle School Thursday in the third-place game for the Area 6AAA tournament.

The Gatorettes led at the end of each period and pulled away in the fourth quarter as they clinched a spot in the Section 2AAA tournament with the victory.

The Gatorettes allowed just two points in the opening period, but they also got off to a slow start on their own offensive end to keep the score close early.

They led 5-2 after one quarter.

The Gatorettes added to their advantage in the second quarter as they held a three-possession lead going into the halftime break. Gracen Baggett scored five of North’s nine points in the second quarter.

They led 14-7 at the end of the first half.

The Gatorettes scored just three points in the third quarter on a basket and a free throw by Kennedy Hall, and the Eaglettes were able to tighten the score as a result.

North led 17-14 going into the final period.

However, the Gatorettes saved their best offensive period for last as they were able to pull away and secure the win by 11 points.

Hall led the Gatorettes with nine points for the game, followed by Baggett and Shekinah Miller with seven points each.

Kenzie Arnold and Sadie Hill scored four points each.

With the win, the Gatorettes improved to 10-6 on the season.

They will next play on Jan. 31 at 4:30 p.m. in a quarterfinal game for the Section 2AAA tournament at Stewarts Creek Middle School. An opponent for the game had not been confirmed at the time of writing.