WILMINGTON — The Scotland High School girls' basketball team was eliminated in the first round of the N.C. 4-A state playoffs following a 64-44 loss to the New Hanover Wildcats on Tuesday night.

The Lady Scots, the No. 3 seed from the Mid-Southeastern 4-A Conference, conclude their finest season in years with a record of 17-8. Scotland had a great season under first-year head coach David Johnson, but the team faded late, losing four of its final five games.

Scotland's worst two losses of the season came on Tuesday, and in the team's next to last game, a 60-33 defeat against Jack Britt in the M-SEC Tournament semifinals.

"I think we got a little tired," said Johnson. "It was the first time in a really long time we played games late in the year that were meaningful.

"There's a lot of pressure that comes with that, and you've got to bring the passion and intensity to match the other teams.

"We didn't change anything (late in the year)."

Scotland was led by senior guard Megan Brigman's 15 points against the Wildcats. Guards Shay McEachern and Alexis McNeil scored six points apiece for SHS.

Scotland trailed 18-10 after one quarter of play, but outscored New Hanover 15-9 in the second quarter and went in trailing 27-25 at the half. The Scots fell behind 48-38 heading into the fourth, and scored just six points in the final eight minutes to lose by 20.

Johnson credited a New Hanover team he called "very fundamentally sound."

"They worked the ball around, good bounce passes, good ball entry ... All the little things you've got to do when it comes down to playoff time, they did them tonight."

Johnson was disappointed to see his team knocked out in the first round, but he is very pleased with the way his first season turned out.

"I'm very happy," he said. "I told the seniors that they did an excellent job of helping the program. We want to build it, and you've got to start somewhere.

"I'm very proud of them, all of them."