Bouncing back from an overtime loss to Pender in the finals of last week’s Waccamaw Conference Tournament, the Whiteville Lady Wolfpack eased its way to a 66-28 victory over visiting South Lenoir Tuesday in the opening round of the state 2A girls high-school basketball playoffs.

Whiteville, now holding a 22-3 record will play the Red Springs Lady Red Devils (23-2) tonight at 7 in second-round play. The winner will advance to sectional final action Saturday at the South Lenoir gym in Deep Run.

Junior forward Paige McCallum led the Tuesday night with 30 points. Senior Talena Faison, still getting back into form from a mid-season ankle injury, finished with 10. Ten WHS players broke into the scoring column.

Coach Dudley Revels’ Lady Wolfpack held a 27-17 halftime lead, and outscored the SLHS squad 16-1 in the third quarter.

Shae Garner was high scorer for South Lenoir with 11.

SOUTH LENOIR (28): Herring 5. Brunton 5, Jones 2, Melvin 5, Garner 11.

WHITEVILLE (66): Gore 5, Turner 1, Cousar 1, Claridy 2, Evans 2, Faison 18, Drayton 3, McCallum 30. Worley 2, Baldwin 2.