The showdown between the Nansemond River High School girls’ basketball team and the King’s Fork High School Lady Bulldogs was worth the wait.

After the teams were unable to play each other on Dec. 18 because Nansemond River’s court was occupied for a wrestling tournament, they faced off for the first time on Wednesday, and the undefeated Lady Bulldogs pulled away for a 59-50 road win.

Entering the game, the Lady Warriors had produced a 2015-16 record of 9-2, while the Lady Bulldogs were the only top girls’ team in the area to remain undefeated at 13-0.

King’s Fork coach Maurice Fofana said it was defense that helped his team improve to 14-0.

“I think that my kids stepped up to the challenge,” he said. “They played well on defense.”

But they started slow and finished the first quarter knotted in a 12-12 tied with the Lady Warriors.

“Nansemond River did a good job,” Fofana said. “They pushed the ball up the floor really well.”

The Lady Bulldogs were not getting back quickly enough to cover on defense like they were supposed to, but in the second quarter, they made the needed adjustment.

“We just kind of picked our pressure up a little bit,” Fofana said, and it showed on the scoreboard as King’s Fork led 34-27 at halftime.

The Lady Warriors came within four at different points during the third quarter, but the Lady Bulldogs exited the period with a 47-39 advantage.

Nansemond River coach R. Calvin Mason Sr. said he thought it was the tempo of the game that proved his team’s undoing.

“We played at a pace that (the Lady Bulldogs) wanted to play at, which is good for them and not for us,” he said.

He also cited other contributing factors to the loss, including some defensive breakdowns aided by lack of communication, poor shooting and a failure to rebound as a team.

“Playing good teams, you have to do a little bit of everything and do it well,” Mason said. “We did enough things to lose, but not enough things to win.”

He noted his team did have opportunities, though, and praised the run it made in the fourth quarter. The Lady Warriors scored the first six points of the period to come within three points of the lead, 47-45.

King’s Fork senior Jac’Quazja Council hit a basket to make it 49-45, then Nansemond River senior Aneka Yelverton hit one of two free throws, and the score remained 49-46 for a stretch.

Lady Bulldogs sophomore Camary Harris hit a crucial shot with less than three and a half minutes remaining to make the score 51-46, and the Lady Warriors never drew closer than five after that.

Council hit a free throw, freshman Neecole Brown got a steal and a bucket and Harris hit a pair of free throws to help King’s Fork extend its lead.

Harris finished the night with a game-high 16 points and added six assists and five steals. Lady Bulldogs junior Amesha Miller had 11 points and nine rebounds, while Council registered 10 points.

For Nansemond River, sophomore Briana Autrey had 12 points and six assists, senior Sabre Clegg had 11 points and seven boards, junior Cassidy Simmons had nine points and eight boards and Yelverton was held to eight points.

The Lady Bulldogs and Lady Warriors will have a re-match on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. as part of the King’s Fork High School January Basketball Showcase.

Prior to that game, they will be in action on Friday in conference games as King’s Fork (14-0) hosts Great Bridge High School and Nansemond River (9-3) hosts Gloucester High School.