ROWLAND — Nicorie Sinclair believed she had a good season for the South Robeson girls basketball team, but did not think she would win the county's player of the year award as a junior.

But after averaging 18 points and almost four steals a game, and helping to lead the Mustangs to the East Regional finals of the state playoffs, Sinclair proved herself worthy of being named The Robesonian's player of the year.

“It’s real special that I got it this year being a junior,” Sinclair said. “It means a lot because, me being a junior, I thought a senior would get it.”

Sinclair scored 40 points in the two games in the regionals in Greenville, in a win against River Mill Academy and a loss to undefeated Williamston. She added 10 games where she scored more than 20 points, including a 41-point outburst against Purnell Swett in early December.

South Robeson won a regular season and conference championship for the first time in over 20 years, an achievement Sinclair is proud she could be a part of with her teammates.

“We played good as a team,” she said. “I think we really did come together better as a team this year, and that’s why we went so far.”

Her coach Lula Ratley feels Sinclair really grew into her own as a player and a leader this season.

“She’s developed some things she’s been working on over the summer like her jump shot," Ratley said. "As a player, she’s an eye-catcher, who along with some of the others did real well this year.”

Sinclair returns with most of her teammates next season to defend their conference title, along with All-East Regional players Krista Davis and Aliyah Ratley.