CHESAPEAKE—Delisia Sharpe returned to full strength just in time to keep King’s Fork perfect in the Southeastern District Tuesday night at previsouly-perfect Grassfield.

Sharpe, KF’s 6-foot-3 senior center, played through being ill during the Ronald Curry Christmas Classic last week. Against the Lady Grizzlies, Sharpe scored 17 points and teamed up with 6-foot-4 teammate Khadedra Croker to give Grassfield’s offense all sorts of problems to lead the Lady Bulldogs (9-1, 7-0) in a 45-43 win.

As much as Sharpe and Croker did around the hoop at both ends of the court in a physical contest with the Lady Grizzlies, who also came into the night with a 6-0 district mark, the Lady Bulldogs pulled out the game thanks to some long-range accuracy at the right time of the fourth quarter.

Grassfield led 37-33 until senior guard Shaikeyla Jordan connected for back-to-back three-point shots, giving the Lady Bulldogs a 39-37 lead with 5:20 remaining.

Jordan’s clutch shooting gave KF enough offense in the low-scoring game to hold on to the lead the rest of the way. KF wouldn’t have been in position to upend Grassfield without Sharpe’s play.

Back-to-back Lady Grizzly threes took a tie score to a 17-11 Grassfield lead, and Grassfield led 17-13 through a quarter.

The Lady Bulldogs, with a Sharpe bucket off an offensive rebound, managed only one field goal in the first 6:22 of the second period.

Instead of falling further behind during the drought, the Lady Bulldogs gained the lead, 21-20, with two free throws by Julissa Riddick with 2:10 left in the half.

King’s Fork turned up the intensity on the defensive end, cutting down Grassfield’s open jump shots. The Lady Bulldogs kept the scoreboard ticking over just enough by getting to the foul line with their tough play in the paint.

Sharpe gathered in a lob pass toward the hoop for a lay-up in the closing seconds. There was still time for Grassfield to rush the ball up the court and drain a three-pointer at the horn for a 29-26 Lady Grizzly lead.

Sharpe had 12 points in the first half, including all three field goals the Lady Bulldogs made in the second period.

King’s Fork scored six straight points during a run in the third period, capped by Sharpe finishing a fast break with a lay-up, for a 33-31 KF lead.

During the last three minutes of the third period and into the first couple of the fourth, Grassfield blanked KF and regained a 37-33 lead, until Jordan’s triples switched the momentum.

Sharpe fought for a rebound, giving KF a fourth shot at the hoop on a possession, and scored for a 43-41 KF lead as the clock went under three minutes. The Lady Bulldog defense held tightly to the slim lead from there.

Thanks to a KF foul on a Grassfield three-point shot, then two shots made at the line, Grassfield drew within 44-43 KF with 0:19 left.

After the Lady Bulldogs wasted a 1-and-1 chance at the line, Grassfield missed on a chance to take the lead and had to foul Shanell Pope with 5.8 seconds left.

KF was 1-of-4 at the line in the last two minutes until Pope made 1-of-2.

Pope missed the second, setting off a scrambled play by Grassfield and a 30-foot toss at the horn that was off the mark.

Jordan had nine points for the Lady Bulldogs and Chantel Roberts added eight points.

The Lady Bulldogs, now alone atop the Southeastern, host Hickory on Friday at 7:30 p.m.