Lakeland’s girls basketball team cut a 15-point Hickory lead down to four late in Tuesday night’s Southeastern District game but couldn’t make it all the way back as Hickory won 48-42.

The Lady Cavaliers (1-5, 1-4) got their first win of the season last time out, a week ago against visiting Great Bridge.

Hickory led most of the game after a run late in the first period to take a 14-7 lead after eight minutes. The Lady Hawks nearly put the game away with a 37-22 lead with two minutes to go in the third period only for Lakeland to fight back and make a game of it down the stretch.

When Lakeland avoided turnovers and was able to keep the ball well enough to get a shot, the Lady Cavs made them at a good clip.

Crystal Treat’s outside shooting paced the Lady Cavs through the first half. A Treat basket and a fast-break lay-in by Dashea Collins cut Hickory’s lead to 18-14 with 4:55 left in the first half.

The Lady Hawks outscored Lakeland 11-4 for the rest of the half and they were the first team to get going as both sides started the second half cold. A spurt of five Hickory points made it 37-22.

A Treat three-pointer cut Hickory’s lead to 37-27. Danielle Reeves picked off a Hickory pass and drove three-quarters of the court to finish with a scoop lay-up around a Lady Hawk as the last couple seconds of the quarter ticked off, putting Lakeland very much in striking distance at 37-29.

Lakeland’s run continued with Rodnesia Sallins scoring a lay-up and Collins hitting a 17-foot jumper to make it 37-33.

On the ensuing Hickory possession Collins stole the ball along the sideline and saved it for the Lady Cavs by tossing it off a Lady Hawk. Lakeland had that possession and a couple more with the chance to get closer but couldn’t capitalize.

Hickory rebuilt a 48-38 lead, mostly from the foul line as the Lady Hawks wound up with an 18-6 scoring edge at the line for the game.

Lakeland even made one last push in the final minute. Still trailing by 10, Sallins and Treat intercepted Hickory passes near midcourt and went in for lay-ups. Treat’s hoop made it 48-42 with 0:33 left and Hickory travelled in the backcourt a few seconds later.

Another quick Lady Cavalier basket would’ve made the finish very interesting but a couple Lakeland shots went begging and Hickory controlled a rebound with 0:12 and counting.

Point guard Morgan Jacques had 16 points, five steals and four assists for Hickory. Caitlyn Douglas added 15 points and nine rebounds.

Treat led Lakeland with 14 points to go with three steals and three assists. Sallins had 10 points and five steals. Reeves had five points and led Lakeland with nine rebounds.