RALEIGH — Broughton’s girls’ basketball coach Brad McCorkle said his team took one more step in the right direction Tuesday, holding off a relentless Enloe team to earn a 62-54 in conference play.

“I’m really proud of my girls because we had a lot of stuff going on ... and I really felt like we fought through in a close game and did what we needed to do to get the win,” McCorkle said.

The Caps, ranked No. 5 in The News & Observer’s poll of area teams, were without starter Justice Byrd and key reserve Chelsey Floyd, but led for much of the game.

Broughton (11-2, 3-1) controlled the first quarter, including a run of 11 unanswered points to take a 21-12 lead.

No. 15 Enloe (8-6, 3-1) would chip away at its deficit in the second quarter with Kiana Jackson crashing the boards and scoring six points on putbacks, as the Eagles pulled within five points by halftime.

“I told them that it’s all about your effort and your desire,” Enloe coach Pina Baker-Hunt said of her halftime speech to her team.

The Eagles came out with more intensity to start the second half.

Senior Vidula Reddy hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put Enloe ahead, but Broughton answered with a 3-pointer by Megan Sullivan and then scored six straight points in transition to regain its lead.

The Caps led 48-34 with three minutes remaining in the third.

“I think we’re at our best when we run,” said Broughton coach Brad McCorkle. “Nadine Ealey really stepped up and showed leadership.”

Ealey, who was key in the Caps’ transition game and scored nine points in the third quarter, would lead all scorers with 15 points.

Sullivan and Jamella Foster added 13 and 12, respectively, for Broughton.

Down 52-42 entering the final period, Enloe didn’t let up. The Eagles used an 8-0 run to pull within two points with six minutes remaining in the game.

McCorkle called a timeout to talk it over with his team, and the Caps responded by again pushing the tempo.

Broughton, fouled in transition as the Eagles struggled to get back on defense, went 6-for-6 from the line down the stretch while Enloe didn’t convert layups on the other end.

“We had great spurts and great opportunities. We just didn’t finish,” Baker-Hunt said.

Four Eagles players contributed double-digit scoring, led by Jackson and Vidula Reddy with 12 apiece.

Candice Jones and Alexus Lewis each added 11.

Grant: 919-829-4538