Heide Trask had lost three straight on the road, but on Tuesday they dropped down to 9-12 to make it four. They took a 53-35 bruising from the Clinton Dark Horses. Unfortunately, that's the third time they've come up short against the Dark Horses this season, with their most recent defeat being a 59-49 loss back in January.

Laila Ballard
| 02/10/26 @ Clinton | 3 |
| 02/09/26 @ East Duplin | 2 |
| 01/29/26 vs South Lenoir | 6 |
| 01/27/26 vs Pender | 2 |
| 01/23/26 vs Clinton | 4 |
| + 9 more games |
Despite the defeat, Heide Trask saw an underclassman step up: freshman Laila Ballard shot 46% from the field on her way to 15 points in addition to eight rebounds and three steals. Ballard is on a roll when it comes to steals, as she's now grabbed two or more in each of the last 14 games she's played. Another player making a difference was Alana Philyaw, who posted four points and seven boards.
As for Clinton, the victory keeps them at an undefeated 21-0. The wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they've averaged 60.2 points this season.
Clinton's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Rubi Davila, who put up 15 points and five steals. Phoenix Everett was another key player, putting up nine points and three steals.
Coincidentally, Heide Trask and Clinton will both be playing Southwest Onslow the next time they take the court. The Dark Horses will head out to face the Stallions at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, while the Titans will host them at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps