WINSTON – Douglas junior Darian MItchell scored a game-high 21 points to lead the Lady Trojans to a 48-42 win over Newport in a 4A play-in game Friday night.

The Trojans never trailed the Cubs, but stretches of ineffectiveness on offense helped keep Newport in the contest. Douglas pulled out to a nine-point lead with a 1:30 to play in the first quarter, but Newport rallied back in the second quarter and eventually tied the game at 22-22 with 2:48 to play in the first half.

Douglas finished the second quarter on a 4-0 run to lead 26-22 at the break. The Trojans continued their run in the third quarter by scoring the first six points and soon built a double digit lead. Senior Ally Schofield put Douglas up by its widest margin, 12 points, with a 3-pointer near the three minute mark of the third period. The Trojans led 44-34 going to the final quarter.

The score remained the same throughout much of the fourth quarter until Newport’s Megan Wagner made two free throws to make the score 44-36. The Cubs continued to chip away at Douglas’ lead, while the Trojans struggled to score. Douglas made just 4-of-10 free throws in the fourth quarter and failed to make a field goal. Meanwhile, Newport got to within five points in the final moments, but couldn’t close the gap any further.

Newport was led by Callie Cavanaugh, who scored 12 points. Megan Wagner added 10 for the Cubs.

The Trojans advance to the first round of the 4A state playoffs for the first time since 2008. The playoff match-ups have not been announced, but Douglas coach Kipp Archambault says expectations are the Trojans will either travel to Brookings-Harbor or to La Grande. His preference would be the Bruins, who the Trojans have faced twice already this season

“I think we can match-up with Brookings,” said Archambault. “We played them twice. They beat us here (at Douglas) by three, but I think we can get them.”

The first round of the 4A state playoffs takes place on Friday, March 4.

NHS 11; 11; 12; 8 – 42
DHS 17; 9; 18; 4 – 48
N: Callie Cavanaugh 12; Wagner 10; M. Hargett 6; Martinez 5; Hyduchak 3; Woodruff 2; H. Hargett 2; Mitchell 2
D: Darien Mitchell 21; L. Rincon 8; Schofield 8; D. Rincon 5; Hickam 4; T. Holcomb 2; Lavin-Williams

– Joey Keeran | joey@bciradio.com | @joeykeeran