The school made a change at the head coaching position at the beginning of the week, firing Carmen Javaux and promoting assistant John Pettit to interim head coach.

Hoping to repeat last year's N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 2-A state championship, the Lady Knights picked up wins in the first and second rounds, advancing to the state semifinals.

On the floor of Asheville Christian Academy, Cary Christian was blasted 85-59 by eventual 2-A champ Asheville Carolina Day School.

The Lady Knights had 27 turnovers, succumbing to Carolina Day's three-quarter court press. Among those playing for Carolina Day was former Cary Academy point guard Caroline Hooker.

"We needed to be red-hot and they needed to be ice-cold and we got neither," Pettit said.

"[Carolina Day] is the best team I've seen," he continued. "They shoot from 3, they drive, they're [good] defensively and they pass well."

Knights junior Dakota Dukes had 25 points and 15 rebounds, while senior Abby Pettit had 11 points and five rebounds.

Pettit, Savannah Lagaly (12 points) and Katrina Wertz walked off the court for the last time in the waning seconds of the game, something John Pettit said was very emotional for a group that had played together for so long.

The senior trio combined for more than 2,500 points in their careers

"It was tough to pull them off the court for the last time," Pettit said.

It was the end of an emotional week after Javaux's abrupt dismissal. Pettit said he would not comment on the situation, but thanked Javaux for her contributions.

"All I can do is tip my hat to her for all the time and the effort and the money she's put in to make these girls into the team that they are," Pettit said.