NORFOLK — Nansemond River’s girls basketball squad ran into the No. 1-ranked team in the state in Eastern Region Tournament quarterfinals Thursday. The Lady Warriors couldn’t slow undefeated Lake Taylor as the Lady Titans won 73-26.

“(Lake Taylor’s) number one in the state for a reason. They put that on display every night. They play hard every night and that’s hard to get from most teams,” said Nansemond River head coach Calvin Mason Sr.

The closest any opponent’s been to the Lady Titans (26-0) was a 39-34 score against Princess Anne, whom Lake Taylor will face in Saturday’s regional semifinals. Other Lady Titan wins in the regular season came by margins of 74-3, 91-9 and 100-12.

Lake Taylor drained long jumpers the first three times with the ball and turned a steal in NR’s backcourt into a lay-up for a sudden 9-0 lead 1:38 into the game. It was 16-0 Lady Titans before two free throws by Delisha Sharpe put the Lady Warriors on the board with 4:00 to go in the first period.

“(Lake Taylor’s) very athletic. They really play the passing lanes well and they’re just overall very aggressive,” Mason said.

“In practice we played against a press with seven or eight players on defense, but the speed of the game was still different,” he said.

From a 34-11 halftime score, Lake Taylor ran off the first 16 points of the second half.

Sharpe, NR’s 6-foot-2 junior center, finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Jenel Cannon had six points, four rebounds and three steals.

Lake Taylor’s five starters and first two substitutes scored between six and 13 points apiece. Senior forward Toia Giggetts, who’s headed to James Madison, had 13 points and three blocks. Senior guard Linda Stepney and senior center Crystal Leary have committed to West Virginia.

The Lady Warriors (19-7) reached the final eight of the Eastern Region for the first time in program history. Five seniors leave the Lady Warrirors: Kyri Davis, Kennia Webb, Cierra Mobley, Briana McClain and Kiara Washington.

“I told them in (the locker room), I’m as proud of them as any team I’ve had,” Mason said.

“I know I’m not the easiest coach to deal with. I know I push them. Even beyond basketball I try to push them because life will push them. I hope I prepare them in some small way for what’s down the road,” Mason said.