PILOT MOUNTAIN — The Keith Gunter era is underway. After long-time East Surry coach Robert Smith retired at the end of last season, Gunter, the former boys’ coach at Patrick County, stepped onto the sideline for the first time in the Cardinals’ season opener.

While the beginning of the game in no way mirrored its finish, Gunter and the Cardinals got their first win of the season, holding on to beat North 47-44.

It was a rough and tumble game, as the Cardinals entered the bonus with just over a minute left in the first quarter. But in the second half, neither team reached the bonus until North Stokes was forced to foul late in the final period to stop the clock.

Things started off strong for East Surry, as a 12-2 first-quarter run keyed by a pair of threes from Hannah Merrit, allowed the Cards to hold a double-digit advantage for the entire first half.

But the lead was misleading, as North Stokes made a push at the end of the half and continued to claw its way back in a fast-paced third quarter, eventually cutting the lead to 41-35 at the start of the fourth quarter.

Gunter said he thinks a let-up defensively allowed North to push its way back into the ball game.

“What we had done in the first half to get the lead was getting the ball inside, attacking the basket and getting fouls,” Gunter said. “We did the same thing in the second half, we just didn’t draw the fouls. I think we did some good things, but in the second half, my call was to kind of back off the throttle defensively a little bit, and I think that allowed them to get hot.”

North finally pulled to within just two points with four minutes left to play in the game, but Merrit stroked another three shortly after to give the Cardinals the final cushion they needed.

“Merrit’s shot was big in the fourth quarter and she got us going in the first half with a rally,” Gunter said. “That’s her role — to get after it on defense and hit some shots, and she did that.”

While Gunter said the defense was suspect in the early part of the second half, the Cardinals came up with 19 steals as a team, with 2008-09 Northwest 1A player of the year Kelsey Long leading the way with seven.

None of those steals was bigger than the final one, as Long all but ripped the ball away from a North Stokes player after the Cardinals committed a turnover following a timeout with 27 seconds remaining and up by just three points.

The Vikings had several shots at the end to tie the game but came up short with East escaping with the win.

Freshman Keri Fulp led the way offensively for East Surry with 12 points, followed by Merrit with 10, Chelsea Nichols with nine and Long with eight.

Jodie Lemons, who played for South Stokes last season, was a big reason the Vikings made a comeback as she finished with a game-high 16 points.

Sara Mabe and Mindy Bullins added eight apiece.

Contact Thomas Smith at tsmith@mtairynews.com or 719-1920.

East Surry — Keri Fulp 12, Hannah Merrit 10, Nichols 9, Long 8, Cole 4, Bryan 2, Bullington 1, Smith 1

North Stokes — Jodie Lemons 16, Bullins 8, Mabe 8, Warden 4, Hutchins 3, Nickelston 3, Hopsin 2