The game proved nip-and-tuck for most of the first three quarters, with North grabbing a 14-12 edge after one quarter and the Eagles rallying to take a 30-29 lead into halftime. Wilkes Central led by five going into the final eight minutes and built on that down the stretch.
The Eagles advance to play Starmount in tonight's MVAC semifinals. The game will tip off at 8 p.m. at North Surry High, with the winner advancing to Friday's championship.
North Wilkes (8-17) now enters wait-and-see mode for the next few days in anticipation of the state 2A playoff brackets, scheduled for release over the weekend. The Vikings, who finished fifth in the MVAC standings, are a bubble team.
The top four MVAC teams receive automatic berths. North Wilkes will be among the teams in the 2A West aiming for a wildcard berth, which is based on overall winning percentage.
Aaron Church led North Wilkes in scoring Monday night, pumping in 22 points in what could be his final game with the Vikes. He made seven shots from the field and a pair of three-pointers.
North lacked another big scorer, though, with the next highest, Stephan Booker, finishing with six points.
Wilkes Central's Roddie Bridges matched Church's 22 points. Matt Abernathy added 14 points, Chase Kimbrell scored nine and Kareem Newkirk finished with eight for the Eagles.
ASHE COUNTY GIRLS 60, NORTH WILKES 38: The Huskies held Viking senior Sarah Smith to just five points in Tuesday's MVAC girls first-round game, well below her average for the season.
No one from North scored in double figures, with Blake Shumate leading the way with nine points. Carly Noble and Amber Combs had seven each.
Ashe County led 12-7 after one quarter and 25-16 at halftime. The Huskies kept up the pace after the break, outscoring the visiting Vikes 17-10 in the third period and 18-12 in the fourth. Kim McNeil paced Ashe with 14 points, while teammates Kelly Huddler added 12 and Caitlin Elliott had 10.
Ashe County will play Wilkes Central in Thursday's MVAC semifinals. North Wilkes (11-14) will wait and see if it has a strong enough winning percentage to earn a wildcard berth for next week's state playoffs. The Vikes are in good position with 11 victories.
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