DUBLIN — The opportunity was there as time was ticking down, but a rare win over Whiteville wasn’t to be for the Lady Knights on Friday. After rallying back from an eight-point deficit in the second half, West Bladen fell 47-44 in the Three Rivers Conference matchup.

The loss drops the Lady Knights to 1-6 overall and 0-5 in the conference.

“The girls played really hard,” said West Bladen coach Brian McCleney. “We got behind early but fought back … cut the deficit to three and had the ball, but we missed the shot and didn’t get the rebound.”

Whiteville jumped out to an 11-6 edge after the first quarter and extended that lead with a 12-10 second-quarter margin, giving the visitors a 23-16 advantage going into halftime.

The Lady Wolfpack managed to earn an 12-11 win through the third quarter and took an eight-point lead into the fourth frame.

The Lady Knights went to work on a comeback, as Conner Brisson canned a three-pointer and another bucket, Carley Dawson hit two baskets and Chasitty Lacey drained a three-pointer during a 17-12 West Bladen run. But the final shot of the night wouldn’t go, and the Lady Wolfpack went home with the win.

“Chasitty had a good game on offense and Patience (Parker) had a really good defensive game,” McCleney said. “I’m very proud of their effort.”

Lacey led the Lady Knights with 13 points and Brisson added eight points.

West Bladen will go on the road to face Union on Monday in a non-conference game at 6 p.m.