Pleasant Home kept the game tight in the first period, but Kinston opened up its offense to beat the Eagles 34-28 in the Class 1A, Area 2 finals Monday night in Kinston.

PHS trailed 5-2 after the first period, 14-5 at half time and 23-18 after the third period.

The Eagles held the ball for most of the beginning of the contest, but when the Bulldogs got off to a 10-point lead, Pleasant Home had to step up its game.

“We tried to spread the ball to reduce their time with it,” PHS boys coach Jerry Davis said. “They have five kids that can score. We tried to make them play us man-to-man, but they hit every shot.”

Pleasant Home falls to 19-10 on the season, and will travel to play the winner of the Class 1A, Area 3 tournament.

Davis said he was pleased with how his players competed Monday night.

“Our kids — they bought into it,” he said. “They played as hard as they could play. We turned ball over too many times, we just threw the ball away. The kids tried to do the very best they could.

“We’ll give it another shot,” he said. “That’s what this one was all about — trying to get the (sub regional) game home. If you win, you have an opportunity to play in South Alabama next weekend (for the South Regional Tournament). That’s what we’re focusing on right now. We’re still kicking.”

Three PHS players were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Stats from Monday night’s game were not available when the Star-News went to press.