Missing five total players, including three starters, the odds of the Nansemond River girls basketball team leaving Churchland High School with a first round win was not likely.

Yet, the Lady Warriors had a chance. NR led Grassfield by one point with three minutes remaining in the game, but ultimately lost to the Lady Grizzlies, 31-21.

Playing shorthanded was not easy for the Lady Warriors and it came back to bite them in the end. With only one sub to put in at a time, NR freshman floor leader Shay Humphries fouled out with 2:00 minutes remaining, signaling the end for the Lady Warriors.

The slow start that plagued Nansemond River the whole summer would strike again as they wouldn’t score for the first eight minutes of the game.

Two three point field goals in less than three minutes for the Lady Grizzlies gave them a 7-2 lead at the 7:30 mark in the first half.

Lisa Sharpe kept the Lady Warriors hanging around as she ran the floor on a fastbreak and scored on an easy layup with 7:03 remaining in the first half, making the score 10-5. NR trailed 12-9 at halftime.

Sharpe started the second half off on a good note, scoring following an offensive rebound to cut the Grassfield lead to one point.

A three-point play from Grassfield at the 10:00 mark made the score 20-14 in favor of the Lady Grizzlies.

NR didn’t quit though, Sharpe grabbed another offensive rebound and scored at the 7:30 point in the second half, cutting the lead to two, 20-18.

Minutes later, the Lady Warriors broke the Lady Grizzly press to get Sharpe an open layup to take a 21-20 lead.

A Grassfield three switched the momentum as the Lady Grizzlies retook the lead, 23-21, with 3:00 remaining in the game.

Exactly one minute later, Humphries would foul out on a loose-ball foul, with the Lady Grizzlies leading 25-21.

With their best player on the bench, the Lady Warriors went scoreless in the final two minutes.