APEX — Middle Creek got a message of encouragement from its bench with just over 2 minutes left in the game: “Come on, ladies. This is our home!”

Protecting their home proved to be tough challenge for the Lady Mustangs on Friday night, as feisty Lee County, led by a phenomenal performance from Lady Jacket Clarissa Crump, gave Middle Creek all it could handle.

But the home team got the memo from its sidelines.

The Lady Mustangs were able to withstand Lee County’s charge, making critical free throws down the stretch to fend off the Lady Jackets 72-66.

“I warned them in the locker room, (the Lady Jackets) are going to fight,” said Middle Creek coach Wes Petty. “They gave us a run for it and we were fortunate to come out with a win.”

The Lady Mustangs grabbed the lead at 41-39 with 6:26 left in the third quarter and wouldn’t let go, but they were in for a fight the rest of the way – as they had been for the entire game.

Lee County dictated the pace for much of the first half, applying pressure, forcing turnovers and scoring easy buckets. The Lady Jackets jumped out to a 13-6 lead with just three minutes left in the opening quarter, but the Lady Mustangs were able to finish strong.

Middle Creek ended the first quarter on a 10-0 run, then did much of the same at the end of the second (9-2 run) after Lee County regained the lead.

“We applied pressure to them and just hatched down on them,” said Middle Creek’s sophomore forward Amber Battle, who led the Lady Mustangs with 18 points. Crump frustrated Middle Creek all night, as she scored 32 points and pushed Lee County to within 2 or less points of Middle Creek nine times once the Lady Mustangs had take their final lead – but no further.

The Lady Jackets had, perhaps, their best shot to take the lead in the final minute. With 40 seconds left and Lee trailing by three, Crump drove the lane and sliced Middle Creek’s lead to 67-66.

At the other end, Middle Creek’s Casey Murdock sank the first, but missed the second of two free throws with 24.5 seconds left.

Off the rebound, the ball bounced off of Lee defender, giving Middle Creek the ball and new life with 22.5 remaining.

After being fouled with just over 16 tics left, Lady Mustangs guard Brittany Murdock sank both free throws to make it 70-66.

Then, Casey Murdock followed suit, icing the game on Middle Creek’s next possession after forward Amber Battle swatted Crump’s attempt to cut the Lady Mustangs lead to two.

“I thought free throws won it at the end,” Petty said. “Our kids hung tough there at the end.”