Cary (6-18) After four years and more than 1,000 points, the high school career of Kelsey Campbell came to an end in the first round of the NCHSAA 4-A playoffs with a 60-24 loss to Southeast Raleigh. Despite being the only player averaging double-digits and playing on a team that scored below 40 points in 14 games, Campbell still managed to post 15.3 points per game — second-highest in the Tri-Eight. This year’s playoff run should benefit coach Donald Kent’s team down the road, as Cary will return all but two players from this year’s team.

Cary Academy (16-13) The Lady Chargers somewhat limped into the NCISAA 3-A playoffs, and they went out in the first round as the ninth seed, losing to eight-seed Durham Academy 49-43 in overtime. It was the fourth time this year the two teams had met, with Durham Academy winning the last three. Coach Kim Shaw’s team finished the year losers in seven of their last eight games. Cary Academy will lose two seniors from this year’s team in Kelsey Lee and Dara Brown, but will return sophomore center Haleigh McFarland, who led the team with 8.9 points per game and was named to the All-TISAC team.

Fuquay-Varina (5-19) The Lady Bengals had just two seniors on the roster this year, and neither of them is leading scorer Raquelle Keeton, whom the team will surely try to build around come next season. Keeton, a sophomore, provided the team a boost down the stretch. In fact, Keeton scored 50 points during a two-game stretch in the last week of January — both of which were wins. In Fuquay’s five wins, Keeton averaged 18.4 points per game. She averaged 8.6 on the season.

Holly Springs(16-12) In just its third year of existence, the Lady Golden Hawks climbed to second place in the Greater Neuse River Conference and hosted a playoff game. "However, the ending of that playoff game is all coach Denitra Hayes said she’d remember when looking back at this year. Her team blew a 12-point lead and lost to visiting Green Hope 59-56. “They gave it away,” Hayes said. Pacing Holly Springs next year will be forward Tiece Ford. Ford led her team in scoring as a sophomore, averaging 9.2 points per game. The Golden Hawks will be losing their first senior class, which includes Bryanna Holmes, who had 15 in her final game. Despite the unprecedented success of the program, Hayes said she’s hoping next year’s team will get more out of next year’s seniors. “The program needs to be changed,” Hayes said. “The seniors didn’t bring any leadership.” Next year HSHS will move into the re-branded Tri-Nine Conference. “I’m definitely looking forward to a new challenge as soon as I get some players who are willing to do the same thing,” Hayes said.

Middle Creek (17-10) Middle Creek finished its year in the first round of the NCHSAA 4-A playoffs with a 49-26 loss to Wakefield. The Lady Mustangs finished fourth in the Tri-Eight, and with just two seniors and one junior on this year’s roster — coach Wes Petty’s team looks poised to improve that standing in the 2009-10 season. Second team All-Conference selection Amber Battle led the Mustangs in scoring this year as a sophomore. The Mustangs will also be the only area team returning a set of identical twins (Leslie and Lauren Woods) as well as fraternal (Brittany and Casey Murdock).

Panther Creek (3-22) Unlike the boys program, the Lady Catamounts were unable to take off in Year Three, as they struggled to find much success or playmakers. Junior Jazmine Sutton led all scorers this season with 7.5 points per game. Coach Geoff Bowman’s team will have a better shot of scraping together more wins next year, as his team won’t lose a single player.

Recaps/end-of-year stories for Apex, Athens Drive, Cary Christian and Green Hope can all be found on the SWakeSports blog.