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McLEANSVILLE -- It's been so long since Dudley didn't win the Triad 3-A Conference title, nobody can quite remember the exact date.

Northern Guilford cleared up the confusion for good Friday, beating the loaded Panthers 70-60 at Northern Guilford to secure the Triad 3-A tournament crown in their second season of varsity competition.

"At the start of the year, Coach asked us what our No. 1 goal was. We wrote on the board, 'Win the conference championship,' " said Northern guard Michael Neal, who scored 13 of his game-high 22 points in the first quarter as the Nighthawks sprinted ahead and kept the Panthers at arm's length.

"This was our first opportunity to play for a championship of any kind," said Northern head coach Stan Kowalewski, who improved to 3-0 when wearing his custom-made purple sport coat. "(Before the game,) I saw a lot of focused faces, which was good. I told them, 'Value the opportunity. Make the most of it.' "

Dudley, whose only two losses in the United States this year have come to Northern, pulled even at 39 in the third quarter on a nifty up-and-under plus the foul by P.J. Hairston, who scored 21 points.

But "every (big basket) they had, we answered," Kowalewski said.

The Nighthawks moved the ball masterfully and kept finding ways to get it inside. Jonathan Frye added 19 points, and Jacob Lawson and Asad Lamot each had seven.

"Not the best night for us," said Dudley point guard Brennan Wyatt, who had 16 points but had to work for all of them.

The Panthers also momentarily lost freshman Reggie Dillard, who lay on the ground for several minutes and had to be carried off by Hairston and Brandon Pennix after injuring his right knee early in the fourth quarter.

Dillard returned in the final minute and finished with 10 points. By that point, things were starting to slip away from the Panthers.

Head coach David Price was called for a technical for shouting at an official with just over 5 minutes left, and the Panthers' Chris Whitsett got the same whistle after fouling Jacob Lawson hard on a breakaway dunk attempt.

After Frye pump faked for a layup, Neal crept in and stole the inbounds pass for a finger roll and an 11-point lead with 4 minutes remaining.

Dudley never got closer than six again.

Price said he didn't think his players got caught up in their emotions during Northern's nail-in-the-coffin rally.

"I probably did," he said, "but the guys didn't."

Dudley (23-3) -- PJ Hairston 22, Brennan Wyatt 16, Reggie Dillard 10, Brandon Pennix 9, Chris Whitsett 3.

Northern Guilford (24-3) -- Michael Neal 22, Jonathan Frye 19, Jacob Lawson 7, JR Gant 2, Christian McCain 6, Asad Lamot 7, Dylan Berry 4, John McBeth 3.