Thirteen players got into the scoring column as the Pinecrest boys opened the basketball season with a 72-35 rout of visiting Western Harnett Wednesday evening.

Trailing 14-13 at the end of the first period, the Patriots put a clamp on the Eagle offense, holding it to just eight field goals the rest of the way.

Evan Cole led the balanced Pats with an all-around performance that included 14 points and seven rebounds. Jarrin Wooten, added 10 points to go with nine rebounds. Julian Brewer scored nine and grabbed 11 off the boards.

"It was a typical first game a grind, "Patriot Coach Mike Apple said. "I thought our defense was very good, especially by our perimeter players. I love the hustle. They were really excited about playing tonight."

Trailing 16-15 early in the second period, a 13-0 run staked the Patriots to a 28-16 lead. Cole had eight points, and Tony Allbrooks and Cedric Threadgill each had a pair of assists, as the Patriots increased their margin to 49-28 through three quarters.

Josh Scales scored six points, and Phillip Wallace added five, as the Patriots poured it on in the final period.

The home team finished with a huge advantage on the boards, including a 23-8 edge in offensive rebounds.

In the work-to-be-done department, the Patriots made only half of their 30 free throws.

"We've got to knock down more free throws and we've got to be more consistent," Apple said. "Especially in the later part of the game, we did good job of relaxing and playing."

The Patriots meet North Moore at home on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. in the Pilot Cup.

Pinecrest beat the Eagles by the nearly identical score of 75-33 in the jayvee game.

Western Harnett 14 4 10 7 35

Pinecrest 13 17 19 23 72

Western Harnett Brewington 2 2-4 6, Grecinger 0 0-0 0, Lewis 1 2-2 4, Mickle 1 0-0 2, Trapp 3 1-5 7, Raym 1 0-0 3, Kelly 1 0-0 2, Flack 2 0-0 4, McNeill 2 1-1 5, Slade 1 0-0 2, Morris 0 0-0 0, Campbell 0 0-0 0, Daniels 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 6-12 35; Pinecrest McCullough 2 0-2 4, Towns 2 2-4 6, Person 0 1-2 1, Cole 6 2-6 14, Brewer 3 3-4 9, Wooten 5 0-2 10, Smith 2 0-0 5, Allbrooks 1 1-2 3, Threadgill 1 0-0 2, Scales 2 2-2 6, Wallace 1 4-6 6, Kropp 2 0-0 4, Elliott 1 0-0 2, McLaughlin 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 15-30 72. Three-point goals: (W) 1 (Raym); (P) 1 (Smith).