Apex coach Scott Campbell was not very pleased with his girls basketball team's defense in a 74-55 victory over New Hanover on Monday night, but he'll take the win anyway.

"It's better to play poorly and win than to play great and lose. That's what we did Friday night," said Campbell, referring to a 59-57 loss to Athens Drive in the Tri-Eight 4-A Conference championship.

The victory over New Hanover in the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4-A playoffs gives the Cougars a second-round match against Hope Mills South View (25-1), a 64-55 winner over East Chapel Hill.

Charli Leto led a balanced Apex attack with 25 points. Kimberlee Durham added 19, and Bethany Collins scored 13.

Apex went on a 26-5 run midway in the third quarter to pull away.

HILLSIDE WINS BIG: Undefeated Durham Hillside (26-0) had no trouble in romping past Fayetteville Pine Forest in a 90-20 blowout.

The Hornets will be at home against Wilmington Hoggard, which beat Clayton 58-50.

WAKEFIELD UNBEATEN: Wakefield (27-0) was not tested in its playoff opener as it blasted Smithfield-Selma 83-25.

Kaila'shea Menendez led Wakefield with 15 points.

The Wolverines next face Fayetteville Seventy-First, a 65-54 winner over Middle Creek.

BROUGHTON UPSETS SOUTHEAST: Broughton (18-6), the No. 3 seed from the Cap Seven, eliminated Greater Neuse tournament champion Southeast Raleigh 55-47.

Broughton junior Brittany Morris led the Caps with 12 points. Jolonda Mitchell and Maggie Tanner had 10 each.

Lakevia Boykin and Demesha Peebles each had 15 points for Southeast, which finished 20-4.

Broughton will play at Fayetteville Westover, a 79-41 winner over Lee County.

MILLBROOK STOPS JORDAN: Millbrook switched to a zone defense in the third period and shut down Durham Jordan's attack in a 47-32 first-round 4-A victory.

Millbrook will play at New Bern, which defeated Fayetteville Britt 55-38, in the second round on Wednesday.

Crystal Wilson scored 19 points for Millbrook, 24-4 and the No. 2 seed from the Cap Seven.

"We started in a man to man, but we were giving up two many layups down the middle," Millbrook coach Chris East said. "We switched to the zone and it worked well for us."

GARNER TAKES FUQUAY EARLY: Garner built a 19-point lead in the first period and never was challenged in its 62-35 4-A win over Fuquay-Varina.

Kanita Shephard led the way for the 25-3 Trojans with 25 points. Kesheria McNeil added 16.

The Trojans are at home Wednesday night against Northern Durham, which beat Lumberton 57-54.

ATHENS PULLS AWAY: Athens Drive pulled away from Wake Forest-Rolesville in the third period to claim a 68-59 first-round victory.

Tyonna Willingham (16 points), Alyx Ingram (13) and Markeisha Gatling (12) led Athens Drive (22-5).

The Jaguars will be at home against Fayetteville Smith or Hoke on Wednesday.

NARROW WINS: Wilmington Laney and Greenville Rose will meet in the second round after taking two-point wins on Monday.

Laney beat Durham Riverside 41-39, and Rose beat East Wake 43-39.

CENTRAL STARTS FAST: Harnett Central shut out Eden Morehead in the first period and easily claimed a 49-29 3-A win.

The Trojans led 15-0 after the first period.

"I've had teams shut out teams for a quarter before, but I don't recall doing it in the first period," Central coach Bennie Pollock said.

Central (21-5) will be at home against SouthWest Edgecombe, a 55-41 winner over Oxford Webb.

WESTERN WINS: Western Harnett, the No. 1 seed from the Cape Fear Valley, defeated Northern Guilford 60-46.

On Wednesday, Western is at home against Rockingham, a 64-42 winner over Southern Nash.

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