CARY It was slated to be a match-up between two of the top girls basketball teams in the Cap-8 and Tri-Nine conferences. But one integral piece of the puzzle was missing for Cary during its 48-41 loss last week to Sanderson.

If there was any thought that Imps' returning point guard, sophomore Mallory Curtis, was not going to play a big part in this year's team, she may have proved that theory wrong by her abscence.