The Bears won their 13th-straight game, as they defeated the Pioneers, 58-43, in the championship contest of the Mountain Empire District girls basketball tournament Saturday in Bland.

Bland County jumped out to a 19-8 lead after the opening quarter and increased its advantage to 28-21 at the half. Both the Bears and Fort Chiswell (15-8) would score 11 points each in the third quarter. However, Bland still held a 39-32 advantage heading into the final quarter. The Bears would score 13 of its 19 fourth quarter points at the foul line, as they pulled away for the 58-43 victory.

Nancy Thacker led Fort Chiswell with 12 points, all from outside the arc, and Sarah Whisman added 10 points.

Laurel Hankins led Bland County with a game-high 13 points and Erika Duncan had 12 poiints

Thacker (Fort Chiswell), Hankins (Bland County), Cameron Snider (Narrows), Carlyta Hamm (Fort Chiswell) and Savanna Burton (Narrows) were named to the All-MED first team, Both Thacker and Hankins were named the district's Co-Players of the Year.

Earlier in the day, Fort Chiswell defeated Narrows, 55-46, in the semifinals. Carlyta Hamm and Nancy Thacker scored 17 and 16 points, respectively for the Bears. Narrows (18-4) was led by 20 points from Cameron Snidow.

In the other semifinal game, Bland County, behind Kirby Mustard's 13 points, defeated Galax (10-12) by a 45-39 margin. Burgandy Bobbitt led Galax with 11 points.