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GREENSBORO -- When two young teams trying to find their identity meet, every point is crucial and every turnover can be critical. The Grimsley girls learned that lesson Friday night.

The Whirlies built a lead late in the third quarter and hit enough free throws down the stretch to hold off Page in a 37-28 win. Grimsley finished 14-of-20 from the free throw line and nine of their 11 fourth-quarter points came from the charity stripe.

First-year Grimsley coach Hank Bullard says it has taken his team a while to get in a groove, but he is starting to see improvement.

"I'm really proud of the way they are starting to pick up some good basketball habits," Bullard said. "I'm running a completely new system from what they did last year. And we are still very young. You look at their ages and they are playing very well for their experience."

The teams were tied at intermission, with the Whirlies being totally frustrated much of the first half by a Page zone. Bullard said he didn't think the Pirates had played zone all year, but thought they might do something different.

"She (Debbie Jones) is a very good coach and I thought she might do something different," Bullard said. "Our shots just weren't falling."

Grimsley used patience on offense and a tough defense to make an 11-2 run in the third quarter to seize control. It also helped that throughout the game, but particularly in the third quarter, the Whirlies hit the offensive boards, giving them multiple chances to score.

"Instead of boxing them out we were trying to outjump them for the ball," said Page's Jones.

The fourth quarter was a series of miscues for both teams. The Whirlies missed shot after shot, but were still in better shape than their counterparts.

The Pirates couldn't get many shots because of turnovers. But Britteny Drew finally hit a big 3-pointer to cut the Grimsley lead to 28-25 with 1:49 to play.

But from there, the Whirlies hit their free throws and Page continued to miss both free throws and open jump shots.

"The last two games that has been how it is," Jones said. "We're trying to create offense with our defense, but it is not working."

Bullard was impressed with his team's intensity, especially on defense.

"Both teams played with intensity, but we really played hard," Bullard said. "Our defensive effort was very good. They kept their composure and did what they had to do."

Page (8-8, 1-2) -- Chevena Pickard 10, Britteny Drew 7, Kera Bell 3, Portia Oakley 3, Ashley Fowler 3, Tosia Sweezer 2.

Grimsley (7-9, 1-2) -- Tiana Bowden 8, Ashley Lee 7, Roxanne Henshall 8, Tiffany Lucas 6, Susan Rich 6, Denika Harden 2.