After forfeiting 17 games, North Lincoln girls are going to an NCHSAA state final
North Lincoln’s memorable, emotional season will have one more game.
The Knights girls’ basketball team, ranked among the top five 5A teams in the state in February, was forced to forfeit 17 games just days before the playoffs began for using an ineligible player. In fact, North Lincoln had to beat Bandys, on the road, to even qualify for the postseason.
The Knights got that win, and the Knights have kept on winning.
With Saturday’s 79-51 blowout of Forest Hills in the NCHSAA Western Regional final, North Lincoln won its seventh straight game. The Knights (8-21) will go to the state championship game as a No. 23 seed. It will be their first appearance in the finals.
North Lincoln will play Southeast Alamance (29-0), the No. 1 seed from the east, in next week’s state championship. Southeast Alamance beat Rocky Mount, 49-31, in the Eastern Regional championship Saturday.
In its semifinal win, North Lincoln snapped an 18-game win streak for Forest Hills (24-5), which was also trying to reach its first state championship.
Forest Hills started the game hot, taking a 7-0 lead, but after that, North Lincoln — and star guard Ally Smith — simply dominated the game.
North Lincoln went on a 12-0 run and took a 12-7 lead. By halftime, North Lincoln led 39-19. The rout was on.
North Lincoln got huge games from Smith (29 points, six assists, three rebounds), Madi Black (13 points, five rebounds) and Ashlyn Black (15 points, six rebounds, four assists).
Forest Hills got 24 points, five rebounds from Azariya Griffin.
Game summary
North Lincoln 15 24 20 20 — 79
Forest Hills 9 10 17 15 — 51
NORTH LINCOLN 79 — Grice 4, Burch 6, Smith 29, Turbyfill 4, M. Black 13, Cipriano 8, A. Black 15
FOREST HILLS 51 — Melton 4, Wingo 10, Shine 2, Rushing 11, Griffin 24
This story was originally published March 7, 2026 at 7:17 PM.
