The 2018-19 women’s basketball season for Gray Stone ended Saturday night at Union Academy in a 59-54 loss in the third round of the NCHSAA 1A state playoffs.

Danielle Werts led three in double figures for the No. 12-seeded Knights (21-7) with 17 points, while Secorra Medley added 13 and Lillie Austin scored 10.

Mya Mahivanh scored 17 to lead the No. 4 Cardinals (27-2), while Mackayla Smith and Savanna Brooks scored 14 each.

Gray Stone jumped out to a fast start, outscoring the Cardinals 24-15 in the opening period. However, the Knights added only one free throw in the second quarter and were outscored 18-1 by Union Academy.

Trailing by eight at halftime, The Knights got within two points, 43-41, after three quarters, and were as close as three in the final 16 seconds.

“When you get to the third round you expect a great game and it was,” Gray Stone coach Robert Stack said. “We just fell a little short.”

The Knights finished the season with 21 wins, marking the fifth straight year Gray Stone has posted 20 or more wins. The seven losses for the Knights came by a combined total of 35 points.

“I’m so proud of these girls for their character and how hard they played all season…you want to be in every game and give yourself a chance. We did that,” Stack said.

He added the 21 wins and a trip to the third round of the playoffs “are icing on the cake to be able to coach such great girls.”

Gray Stone graduates two players from this season’s team: Austin and Mattie Burris.