The "Dueling Dinosaurs" exhibit opening this weekend at Raleigh's North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will feature what's believed to be the most complete T. rex skeleton ever discovered.

'Dueling Dinosaurs:' One-of-a-kind dig at Raleigh science museum opens this weekend

DinoLab at North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Athens Drive Magnet High School and Conn Magnet Elementary School won national awards Saturday at the Magnet Schools of America's annual conference.

Top two magnet schools in the US are in Wake County

Athens Drive High School

After losing to Seaforth in the regional championship game last season, North Pitt defeated the Hawks to get to the state championship.

Last season, North Pitt and Seaforth met in the state semifinals and the Hawks advanced to the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2A state championship.

This season, the two teams met once again with a state championship game berth on the line, but the result was not the same. (1) North Pitt cruised to a 70-45 win over (3) Seaforth, earning a trip to Saturday's state title game.

<ul>	<li><a href="https://legacy.highschoolot.com/basketball/girls_basketball/document/21328357/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Box Score: North Pitt 70, Seaforth 45</a></li>	<li><a href="https://www.highschoolot.com/story/schedule-matchups-for-nchsaa-basketball-championship-week/21320112/">Schedule for NCHSAA basketball championship week</a></li>	<li><a href="https://www.highschoolot.com/story/interactive-2024-nchsaa-boys-girls-basketball-state-playoff-brackets/21299318/">Interactive basketball playoff brackets</a></li></ul>

NC State recruit Zamareya Jones scored the first seven points of the game for North Pitt. She then hit a three-point basket as time expired in the first quarter to give North Pitt a 17-12 lead.

The Panthers started the second quarter on a 6-2 run, leading to a Seaforth timeout, but it didn't slow down North Pitt. Jordan Speller took over in the second quarter for the Panthers and they led 34-22 at halftime.

North Pitt's girls basketball team took questions from the press following its win over Seaforth in the 2A eastern regional championship game.

North head High school 2024 regional champions coming last you for opening statements will open up questions for young student, Ale. Um Great job by the girls. You know, since this game last year, we said that we got to get better. They took the challenge. We knew co was ahead of us. They just stepped up and I'm proud of all of the same group that's been here with me since I got here, bought into what we wanted to do. And this was year three is this is, this is the goal so proud of these labels, you know, how much, you know, these girls are able to hit shots and run offense, but to do so in this big arena and to do it right off jump. Uh What did it take to really get the offense? That's why we play the games we played. We played the John Wall played a major team from New Jersey who's number six team in the nation. So that's why we played the game, you know, Terry S South Central. Those are all big games, so we don't play cupcakes. So to be prepared for the moment. Here, I was gonna ask the players about that game that you played in December, uh in Raleigh. How did that environment prepare you all for this game? Cause it felt like during that game, there were points where I think some of you were looking around at each other trying to figure out how to navigate through that, you know, championship style game. And it felt like tonight, you all were prepared and we just came naturally, the game prepared us for this game. So we're going out there thinking just like another John Wall game this time, he was prepared and we was ready to compete. Why she said it came natural. I think we wanted to know, I appreciate high school team for the bulletin board material. We always shut up, shut up, Maria, you know, last year they weren't falling and this year they were ho you know, how good does that feel to kinda put it out there like that? Um It, it was good last year. Um C four didn't get to see your whole team. So coming into this game, he showed that we are, we are, we can play as a team. It's just not a one woman show. Um, they got the best of his best of us and I mean, they went home with it. Can you watched last year? And this year you got to play, what was it like being out there for this? It was a great feeling like words can't really explain how I feel. It. Feel good to be out there and get the dog Jordan. You looked like you were feeling it out there. I was, you know, like I just wanna, you know, my friends to go home with a ring. Like, so if they last year, were they saying anything? You look like you got inspired there in the second half? Yeah. You know, they're my teammate. they order me. So, you know, if I get down, they uplift, there's nobody that can put their head down. The, they always got you. They got your back. Like we said before. Every game, Jordan, you're a freshman but everyone watching would think you're a senior with your playmaking abilities. What's your mindset? Every time you tackle the court? I mean, it's, you know, goddamn will be that dog. You know, I play for my family. I wanna give my family, you know how you feel me. So, you know, when it's out there and my head is win and you've had this entire year to soak up from see her knowledge, her game. What is she taught you as both a player on the court and as a person, she's taught me how to be a woman on and off the court. You know, she teaches me things on the court, things I could do better and off the court. You know, she could help me with my school work or, you know, just out anywhere z my question for you is, you know, most people would think. All right, why isn't she wearing contacts out there? Do you get some superpowers from wearing the glasses out there? I don't, I don't like touching my eyes. So that's why I really don't wear contacts and I'm so used to being called a day, a girl with the glasses. So it's just gonna stick with me now, I'm just gonna wear glasses all the time. Now, how much was kinda last year? Uh, just for Mario, sorry. Uh How much was last year? Just on the mind and the preparation and even in the lead up just today, coming into this game, it was, of course, we didn't want to go home last year. So this year we just, we call it a get back game. So who's gonna get our range? And we got, how does it feel to get a shot to play for a state title on Saturday? Feels good. You ready because of the fan support today? Just felt like every, I mean, they're always behind you and have your back but not here. Winston Salem. How special was that? Yeah. Well, our fans always bring it, but we have Farmville fans too, you know. So, hey, when we're outside of our, our rivalry, it's Pitt county versus everybody. So that's, that's, that's the mindset because when we get off of here, we're gonna check them to East Burke on Saturday. Uh, I'm sure you probably got to watch a little bit of, uh, the game before you. Uh, what do you expect from that? It's gonna be a tough game. It's gonna be a war. We're gonna be prepared. Coach. How'd y'all prepare? Just playing in the bigger gym? That perception is a little different. What, what if anything did y'all do to get ready for it? We shot, we shot at East Carol on, on, on Monday and we start at EC State any reason to stop in Raleigh at all because I hand the camera. It was, it was, it was on the way. Coach, you touched on it a little bit there. But how special is it to know that when you're playing in conference Farmville is your rival? But then to both be at this big stage, you're now rooting for each other. What does that say about your sports? I mean, they are, they, we're close, close knit community. They, they a real community. We are too, you know, everybody goes to church to be able to see each other in Walmart at the mall. So it's a robbery between us. But at the end of the day when they're playing someone else, it's not a robbery. It's, it's male versus all the books. Coach, you mentioned that you've improved since last year of the three young ladies here. How has each one of them improved this, this past year, these leadership, her leadership she sees grown in that aspect of le learning how to, we, each type of, uh, individual made me t, you know, sometimes she used to get down the shot, you know, won't fall, won't fall. But her willingness is pushed through adversity. And Jordan, this is my first year. But she's a dog. You see what I'm saying? You know, if you don't have her on the radar, I mean, it's, it's hard. She's already great. But, you know, I have some stuff for her to challenge herself with for next year. But when you're already at that level, now you got a nick. So she's gonna, we have three great young women right here, you know, and I, I'm super proud of all of them and I'm excited to see the young ladies that come with you, but a cramp me but coach just, just uh as you kind of move on a Saturday. Uh You know, how do you kind of refocus and get ready to try and bring hang another banner in the gym in Bethel in the LA order. Kobe, what Kobe says? Not. So we're gonna lock in refocus. We got four more quarters to win. We said before the game, we had eight quarters to win. Now we got four more quarters to win. Uh This is for each one of the individual ladies. What has been the best thing that you've learned from the coach this year? Where are they? Um How you go, oh, um I learned how to be myself. You know, sometimes I go out on the court and you know, I try to play a different game but coach f me, he let me play my own style, you know, he don't try to change that. No, whatever I'm comfortable with, that's what we're going with. Kim. Kim and me the t teaching me to keep my head up cause you never know who's like, like I said, just let me be myself. A lot of coaches don't like, I mean, Jordan play me flashy when you listen to this but he don't care if we, if we scoring, he good with it. Thank you so much for your time. We'll see you Saturday.

Nick Stevens

Press Conference: North Pitt girls basketball team after 2A regional final

Jones had 17 points and Speller has 12 points in the first half for North Pitt.

Seaforth's comeback got more difficult in the second half. Gabby White picked up her fourth foul with 5:35 left in the third quarter as North Pitt's momentum carried over into the second half. White fouled out in the fourth quarter.

North Pitt led by as many as 23 points in the third quarter and led 53-34 going into the fourth. That lead expanded in the fourth quarter as North Pitt advanced past Seaforth 70-45.

With her future college coach in attendance — NC State's Wes Moore — Jones led North Pitt in scoring with 29 points. She also had nine rebounds and four assists.

Seaforth's girls basketball team met with the media after losing to North Pitt in the 2A eastern regional championship game.

Sea for high school, the regional runners up co you give us an opening statement and we'll open it up for questions for both you and the student after coach by uh c fourth high school first. I want to start by saying, you know, I wanna thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for getting to this stage. You know, I'm super proud of my girls. They worked extremely hard. We started back in, you know, September waking up at 6 a.m. The girls worked really hard to get to the point this point of the season and I'm super, super proud of them coach uh from this game a year ago. Um What do you think kind of changed with the way they kind of attacked you all often? Yeah, so uh North Pitt is a special team. Uh They got some really, really good cars, you know, the biggest thing today, you know, Shasta is fall in our favor. Um We had a, we had a really bad shooting night. So, you know, Shasta is fall in our favor today. This can be for Gray and coach. Um Yeah, we started out in a type o start the game with a hand one. it kept going throughout the game just how, what was the mindset coming into this one, for you and, uh, coach kind of, what was, was that kind of like a, uh, a thing you were telling the, the, the girls to attack before this one? Yes, sir. So we came in with the game plan that we wanted to attack. Uh, we wanted to, you know, slow the game down, have them play in our pace and then, you know, look to, you know, run our actions to get points at the basket. And I would say I'm probably one of the best players in the country, not a lot of people can guard. So really just get to the basket, uh, and getting my team involved in the game. I think that's how they could have won the game. Yeah, we weren't hitting shots but we got the shots that we wanted. So I think we were pretty successful. But I think, you know, the next year, next year we'll do the same thing and work even harder. We'll keep at the game plans, we'll keep on the scouts people and all that and hopefully we'll be successful. And then obviously, I know turnovers are a little bit of an issue in this one. Kind of. What was, uh, what do you guys see from Northgate that, that was causing some disruption? Yeah, they're very athletic team. They did really well, in the, you know, pass las night, um, and then hats off coach or anything have to do with the fact that you're playing in a big arena. Um, look, honestly you kind of seem to start off a little bit slow. Usually you get it to saint by the end of the first quarter. That didn't seem to happen here at the Joe Coliseum. Yeah. So, uh, no, uh, our girls have played in, you know, a number of different environments and, you know, as I said earlier, you know, I thought the biggest thing today, you know, uh we got the shots we want. Sometimes the ball just doesn't fall in your favor. And, uh Hannah, you know, this year, last game here at sea board as a senior, um kinda just kinda talk about your time at sea board then how much meant to you to be on the stage twice and stay, uh, stay on it last year and then to come back and have a chance to do it again. Does that mean you definitely, it means it means the world to me and I don't hang my head tonight forever. I'm forever grateful to have had these experiences with these girls and I know I wouldn't, not without some coach, you're, you're back here. What have been the biggest improvements that you've seen from each one of the young ladies up there this season? Yeah. So first and foremost, I'll start with our senior senior Hannah G, you know, she's a, she's a great leader. She comes in every single day and she works hard. She doesn't take any days off. Um She's always pumping her teammates up. Um She's always going the extra mile. Peggy Collins also a great leader for us. Uh She's the, an exception we for is defensively. She's come up with, uh very big and, um, and games all things as well. And then also Gabby White, um, she's a, she's an excellent guard. She's a great talent. Um, I think, you know, people need to give her credit because she's doing a great job and she really deserves her recognition and, uh, because you bring back, you know, pretty much every starter except one hand only start losing. So how confident and, uh, patient have you guys answer to how confident you guys that you guys be back here next year. So you show we'll be back. I'm fully confident that we'll do that when regional one states, we just gotta keep working hard sitting in the game plan doing what she has to do with this year. But certainly our time will come. I mean, we obviously cannot short this year, but, um, we'll do, we'll do what we gotta do to get done again. You, you've played two really good seasons this, this year and last year. What's the best thing or what's the biggest thing that you've learned from your coaches for each one? Of the players. Yeah, I will say the biggest thing I learned through my coaches is to trust in myself and really, like, back myself up and, like, not wonder, um, I would agree with that as well as my, like, confidence and how to, like, um, know what I'm doing and trust that I like can do it. I would agree with both of them and then add, just trust the process. You know, freshman year we got a chance to go to the state tournament, uh, got kicked out of the second round. Coach started us to keep, um, keep working, keep getting better. Next year. We went to the final, the championship we lost, came up short. He told us to keep working. Keep, uh, keep getting better. This year, we had a great season. We won a whole bunch of tournaments. One whole to accolades, had a chance to make it back to the tournament. I mean, to the championship ended up short, but just the fact that we've been able to be successful each year and get to the same point and get better. I think that means a lot. So I think if we keep listening to what coach has for us, we should be good. I know just one last one, coach, you know, three years here. Did you start the program, um, make the state playoffs first year and then, um, in the regional, two years in a row. So kind of what do you think is the biggest thing, um, that your team and this program needs to do for next year or years. It comes to finally go over that hump and get that state championship. You know, I think the biggest thing is just to stay the course because, you know, once you get to this point of the year, you know, everything just has to fall in place. So the biggest thing is for us to continue to work hard just as we always have done. And again, as the ladies have have said, if we say, of course, you know, I, I believe we have a real shot to get over them. Congratulations on a great season. Thank you for your time.

Press Conference: Seaforth girls basketball team after 2A regional final

Speller finished with 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting. Jones and Speller were the only two players in double-figures for North Pitt.

Seaforth was led by White with 30 points and 11 rebounds before she fouled out of the game. No other Hawks players were in double-figures.

North Pitt will face (3) East Burke in the 2A state championship game on Saturday in Winston-Salem. East Burke defeated Lincoln Charter 48-39 in the western regional championship game earlier in the day.

This is the fourth time in school history North Pitt has played for a girls basketball state championship. The Panthers have won the state championship in each of their previous appearances, the last coming in 2018.

North Pitt defeated Seaforth to advance to the 2A girls basketball state championship game.

Photos: Seaforth vs. North Pitt in girls basketball (March 13, 2024)

Photos: North Pitt vs. Seaforth girls basketball (Mar. 13, 2024)

<h2><a href="https://legacy.highschoolot.com/basketball/girls_basketball/document/21328357/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Box Score: North Pitt 70, Seaforth 45</a></h2>

North Pitt: Zamareya Jones 29, Jordan Speller 24, Zihanna Lightfoot 8 (10 rebounds), Kanae Edwards 6, Gjahnice Chance 3.

Seaforth: Gabby White 30 (11 rebounds), Hannah Ajayi 7, Katie Leonard 4, Peyton Collins 2, Mia Moore 2.

North Pitt avenges last season's loss to Seaforth, advances to 2A state final

North Pitt Panthers,Seaforth Hawks,girls' basketball

(CNN) -- Hamas on Saturday published a video of two hostages, American-Israeli Keith Siegel and Israeli Omri Miran.

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Police were investigating another death in Goldsboro after a man was found with gunshot injuries on Saturday.

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A skydiving student is recovering after an emergency landing on Saturday when his parachute malfunctioned.

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The "Dueling Dinos" exhibit opened Saturday, drawing over 184 visitors in the first hour alone.

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After trading up to go get receiver Xavier Legette on Thursday night, the Panthers kept wheeling-and-dealing on Friday.

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St. Augustine's University hosts a free Student Care Concert to support grads, athletes and staff. 

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Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings are held at 3 p.m. daily. They can be seen as live or on-demand video.

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Superb goaltending from Frederick Andersen and two goals from defensemen gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-0 series lead Thursday. The Canes will try to finish off the New York Islanders on Saturday in Game 4.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Mathew Barzal capped a solid all-around effort by the New York Islanders with their season on the line to get a big win.

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Stefan Noesen scored the game-tying goal in the third period and the Canes and Islanders have been tied ever since. Game four is headed to a second overtime

Canes, Islanders knotted at two apiece headed to a second overtime in Game 4

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New general manager Dan Morgan showed his defensive roots, but not until he stockpiled some new weapons for Bryce Young and the offense.

North Pitt avenges last season's loss to Seaforth, advances to 2A state final

Box Score: North Pitt 70, Seaforth 45

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Box Score: North Pitt 70, Seaforth 45

Highlights: Jones, Speller lead North Pitt to win over Seaforth

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North Pitt avenges last season's loss to Seaforth, advances to 2A state final

Box Score: North Pitt 70, Seaforth 45

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​​​​​​​Box Score: North Pitt 70, Seaforth 45

Highlights: Jones, Speller lead North Pitt to win over Seaforth

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Box Score: North Pitt 70, Seaforth 45