CHESAPEAKE ­— King’s Fork’s girls basketball squad worked its way closer to the top teams in the Southeastern District as last season progressed.

A few games into this new campaign, the Lady Bulldogs are well beyond the goal of being competitive. King’s Fork (4-0, 4-0) made its biggest statement yet with a 54-32 win at defending Southeastern champion Western Branch on Tuesday night.

Powered by 6-foot-4 power forward Khadedra Croker and 6-foot-3 center Delisha Sharpe, the Lady Bulldogs dominated the glass and the lane on both ends of the court.

Croker had 17 points and 11 rebounds, doing most of her work in the first half. Sharpe tallied most of her 11 points and 13 boards in the second half. The Lady Bulldogs won each of the four quarters for what was a rout by the time the last couple minutes were ticking off the clock.

Sharpe and Croker tossed in shots from the middle of the lane, followed by point guard Brittnay Alston finishing a steal with a lay-up to turn an early 2-0 Western Branch lead into a 6-3 KF edge.

Along with grabbing offensive boards and scoring, KF’s frontcourt put the Lady Bruins in foul trouble. WB 6-foot-2 center Delishia Griffin, an all-district player last season, had three fouls on her by early in the second period. Griffin was forced to the bench for much of the game and finished with three points.

Croker scored eight points, including turning a missed free throw into a four-point play for the Lady Bulldogs, in a 12-4 KF run to end the first half and give the Lady Bulldogs a 26-16 halftime lead.

Western Branch gave the Lady Bulldogs its best shot to start the second half. The Lady Bruins forced three KF turnovers and turned the miscues into seven quick points, and a 26-23 KF lead, in the first 1:19 of the new half.

The Lady Bulldogs regrouped by continuing to get the ball inside. Sharpe got the ball in the low post on back-to-back possessions and turned the two plays into four easy-looking points, rebuilding KF’s lead up to 36-25.

Even when KF’s offense wasn’t as smooth, a missed jumper worked nearly as well in getting the ball to Croker or Sharpe. The Lady Bulldogs took a 40-25 lead to the final quarter.

Forward Chantel Roberts, who would be a leading post player on most other high school squads, had six points, nine boards and five steals. Alston added eight points and five assists.

Not coincidental to the final 22-point margin, King’s Fork outrebounded the Lady Bruins 54-31.

The Lady Bulldogs host Oscar Smith Friday at 7:30 p.m. and will have to avoid looking ahead at an even bigger opportunity to show where they stack up this season. KF plays at defending state champion Princess Anne Monday at 6 p.m. Princess Anne is 5-0 this season after going 31-1 last year.