The Nansemond River High School girls’ basketball team got the setup but not the finish it needed in Saturday’s PenSouth Conference tournament championship game at Menchville High School.

The No. 2 Lady Warriors established a nice lead in the fourth quarter against No. 1 Bethel High School, but they were not able to close out the Lady Bruins, who went on a run and ended up winning 56-47.

“Down the stretch, we just didn’t do a good job of playing within ourselves,” Nansemond River coach R. Calvin Mason Sr. said. “I think we really got in a hurry, especially after they scored a basket or so late, and we kind of lost the concentration. That’s when you’ve got to focus the most.”

The Lady Warriors were working from behind for much of the game and were down by eight at halftime.

“We did a great job defensively in the third quarter,” Mason said, setting up a tied game going into the fourth.

After Nansemond River took the lead, Bethel picked up the tempo of its game and found a way to turn the tide.

The score was tied 43-43 with about three and a half minutes to play when the Lady Bruins drew a foul. The shooter made the first free throw and missed the second, but Bethel rebounded the ball and put it in to suddenly take a 46-43 lead.

The Lady Warriors had some opportunities at the line that they could not capitalize on. Meanwhile, the Lady Bruins used free throws and baskets, one off of a steal, to grow their lead to 56-43.

“I told the girls, the difference in the game late was (the Lady Bruins) made free throws, and some of the kids made plays,” Mason said. “We missed free throws, and we didn’t make any plays. That’s how simple it is.”

The game was tightly officiated, which contributed to some of Nansemond River’s players getting into foul trouble, including senior center Sabre Clegg and junior forward/guard Daijah Norris. They are the Lady Warriors’ chief rebounders and both fouled out in the latter half of the final period.

Nansemond River was led by senior guard/forward Aneka Yelverton with 15 points, while sophomore point guard Briana Autrey contributed 11 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Junior shooting guard Cassidy Simmons added six points, four rebounds and two steals.

Nansemond River’s previous meetings with Bethel this season had been lower scoring contests.

The Lady Bruins won 46-44 at Nansemond River on Feb. 3.

When the teams finished as co-conference champions for the regular season, it set up a playoff game on Feb. 13 to determine who would hold the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament and claim the automatic regional berth that came with it. Bethel defeated the Lady Warriors 35-31 in that game at Menchville.

In reference to Saturday’s conference tournament title game, Mason said, “I told somebody, I said, if we get the score in the 60s, 70s, we’re OK. If it’s in the 40s and 50s, that’s where they want to be.”

The failure to close out an opponent was not a new problem for the Lady Warriors.

“That’s been a problem all year,” Mason said, and he hopes to work with his team on some things before the regional tournament, but the quarterfinal round comes quickly.

Nansemond River will face Princess Anne High School on Monday at Kempsville High School.

“That’s one of the big negatives of this format is that PA finished on Wednesday, so they’ve had practice, opportunity to scout us,” Mason said. “We finished today. We’ve got to turn around and play on Monday with no practice.”

But Mason was also clear that he was thankful that his team, which holds a record of 18-7, has another opportunity to play. Tip-off for its quarterfinal matchup against the Lady Cavaliers is set for 6 p.m.