The 2017-18 Prince Edward County High School varsity girls basketball team further cemented its place in school history Wednesday night by defeating visiting Bruton High School 53-46 in the Region 2A tournament semifinals, securing a berth in the state tournament and advancing to Friday’s regional championship game in Prince Edward.

This is the furthest the Lady Eagles have ever advanced as a Virginia High School League Class 2 team.

The last time Prince Edward’s girls program experienced such success came when the school competed at the Class 1 level.

“It’s been a long time, 20 years, almost 20 years,” Lady Eagles Head Coach Carlton Redd said. “Feels good, feels good. I think I aged another five, six years, but it feels good. It feels real good.”

The No. 5 Lady Panthers put up a challenge. No. 1 Prince Edward held a 9-7 lead after the first quarter and grew it in the subsequent periods, holding a 26-21 advantage at halftime and a 36-27 lead after three quarters. But Bruton made a late charge in the fourth quarter coming within two points, 48-46.

The Lady Eagles continued to practice tenacious defense, and they hit their free throws. Junior Shauneice Beasley hit two free throws to make it 50-46 with one minute, 10 seconds remaining, and then sophomore Ke’Mya Rux converted a three-point play with 14.2 seconds to help seal the win.

Redd said the key to victory was intensity.

“We knew where we were, and I stressed to them that we were on ground that it’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to walk on this ground and play at this level and this important game,” he said. “We knew we had to play outside of ourselves. We had to play our toughest defensive game in here …”

He noted that Bruton is a big team, with one of the most athletic girls his team has faced in the paint and one of the longest guards his team has faced.

“Our guard play and our speed, we did good,” he said. “They played with a lot of heart, nothing but heart.”

Junior point guard Da’Mya Harris led her team with 19 points, Rux finished with nine and senior Asia Wilson had eight, while Beasley and junior Madison Lehman had six points apiece.

Senior Ka’Deshia Wright was consistently disruptive on the defensive end of the court.

“That’s what she does,” Redd said.

Harris also made a difference defensively, as did Rux, who showed tremendous strength despite being so young.

“She don’t know how good she can be …” Redd said. “… She made three really big plays at the end of the game just on her athleticism.”

After the game, Wright said the victory “means a lot, honestly, because this is our first year going far …”

Harris said, “It’s hard. But hard work and dedication can get you anywhere.”

Noting what gave her team the edge Wednesday, Harris said, “Motivation. Teamwork.”

“And the crowd,” Wright added.

Prince Edward (22-4) hosts No. 2 Poquoson High School in the regional title game Friday at 6 p.m.

Giving his preliminary thoughts on Poquoson, Redd said, “I know they’re really good. I haven’t seen them play. I hadn’t seen Bruton play, but I know they’re good. … When you get this far, you’re good. Ain’t no easy games now. We know every game gets harder from here, it doesn’t get any easier.”

Harris said, “It is what it is. If we play hard, we got it.”