A hot shooting night by Leondra Smith was not enough as Pinecrest fell 56-46 to Jack Britt at home on Tuesday.

The senior guard went nine for 15 from the field, scoring 21 points, as the Patriots dropped to 4-7 in the Mid-Southeastern Conference and 8-12 overall. Led by 20 points from C.C. Williams, the visitors improved to 7-4 and 12-9.

Trailing 19-10 early in the second period, Smith made the basket that started a 9-0 run. A putback by Jenny McElligott, two points from Brittany Williams and then a three by Smith tied the game at 19-19.

The Buccaneers scored the next five points before another three by Smith cut the deficit to 24-22 at halftime. The Bucs rebuilt their lead to 40-32 at the end of the third quarter before the Patriots rallied again.

Shaneika McRae opened the third-period scoring for the Patriot with a layup. Smith then fed Williams for an acrobatic bucket, making it 40-36. The Bucs countered with a pair of free throws by C.C. Williams before a three by the Pats' Latanya Cain made it 42-39 with just over six minutes left in the game.

Moments later, a jumper by Smith brought the Patriots within two before the Bucs' Keinna Evans took over. Evans drove to the hoop three times in a row for baskets, turning one of them into a three-point play and a 52-43 lead.

Evans finished with 14 points. Brittany Williams was also in double figures for the Patriots with 10.

Pinecrest was scheduled to entertain Westover (11-0 and 20-0), the No. 1 ranked 4-A team in the state (NCPreps), on Thursday. Next Tuesday the Patriots travel to Seventy-First.

Jack Britt 16 8 16 16 -- 56

Pinecrest 10 12 10 14 -- 46

Jack Britt -- Rush 0 0-0 0, Johnson 1 1-1 3, McIntyre 3 0-0 9, Murphy 3 4-6 10, Evans 6 1-2 14, Williams 8 4-9 20, Sandy 0 0-0 0. Totals -- 21 10-18 56.

Pinecrest -- Smith 9 0-0 21, Cain 2 0-0 6, Williams 5 0-0 10, Humphrey 0 2-2 2, Saunders 1 0-0 3, Brooker 0 0-0 0, Gillis 0 0-0 0, McRae 1 0-1 2, McElligott 1 0-0 2, Justice 0 0-0 0. Totals -- 19 2-3 46.

Three-point goals: Jack Britt 4 (McIntyre 3, Evans); Pinecrest 6 (Smith 3, Cain 2, Saunders).