The Pleasant Home Lady Eagles built an early lead Thursday night in the Class 1A, Area 2 championship game in Pleasant Home and held on to defeat the Kinston Lady Bulldogs 58-27.

River Baldwin got the Lady Eagles on the board first when she dropped in bucket off an assist from Camille Holley.

After a free throw and another basket from Baldwin, Holley popped a 3-pointer from the corner to put the Lady Eagles up 8-0 early in the first period.

Cassidy Godwin then made a nice move through the lane for a layup, and Anna Bulger picked up the assist to put the Lady Eagles on top 10-0.

At the end of the first period, the Lady Eagles were up 21-9.

Baldwin was fouled to open up the second period and connected on both free throws to give Pleasant Home a 23-9 advantage.

Moments later, Baldwin grabbed an offensive rebound and face fouled as she went back up for a shot. The shot dropped and Baldwin drained the free throw to put the Lady Eagles up 30-14.

Godwin then made a strong drive to the lane for a layup.

At halftime, the Lady Eagles held a 38-18 lead.

Both teams continued to scrap it out in the third period, but it was Pleasant Home who held a 48-24 advantage heading into the final period.

Baldwin picked up a few more buckets in the final period, and Amy Bulger drilled a 3-pointer near the end of the game to help give the Lady Eagles a 58-27 win.

“Best thing is we are still playing and we are at the house,” Pleasant Home coach Jerry Davis said. “As for tonight, I thought we came out strong and then it got ugly, but the name of story right now is to win.”

Davis said the key tonight for the Lady Eagles was rebounding.

“We had 38 rebounds tonight and that is a lot for high school game,” Davis said.

Baldwin led the Lady Eagles with 36 points in the win.

The Lady Eagles will host the runner-up for Class 1A, Area 1 for sub-regional.