By Charlie Bergmann

Special to The Pilot

The Pinecrest girls basketball team that pulled off an exciting 62-56 victory over Southern Lee on Thursday was not the same one that showed up at Western Harnett on Friday.

Coach Alvita Thomas' squad was playing its third basketball game in four nights, the last two on the road, and the Patriots (3-3) were defeated 45-34 by Western Harnett (3-0), breaking a three-game winning steak.

"I don't like three games in a week," Thomas said afterward. "The last two games we played up-tempo like we usually do. Tonight we were sluggish, and they couldn't get their rhythm. We just couldn't get it together."

Even so, the Eagle offense wasn't exactly operating like a well-oiled machine either. The Patriots managed to make it to the halftime intermission trailing by only two points at 21-19. But an 8-0 run put the Eagles in command before Janea Williams scored the only Patriot basket of the third quarter.

The Patriots finished the night with only two more points than turnovers. Ariel Bursey of the Eagles scored a game-high 17 points. Candice Seagraves led the Pats with eight.

What a difference a day can make. After falling behind 5-4 in the early going against Southern Lee, Pinecrest never trailed again.

Williams helped the Pats build a 30-25 halftime lead with nine points and three blocked shots. The 6-foot-2 freshman, who dunked a small basketball during practice on Wednesday, brought a gasp from the crowd when she went rim high with her hands on a second quarter putback attempt.

Helped by three third-quarter threes by Ashleigh McKenzie, the Patriots twice built 13-point leads. But they forced the action offensively in the fourth period like a team that was trailing instead of winning. With four minutes left in the game, the Cavaliers had taken advantage of enough quick shots and turnovers by the visitors to draw within one point at 54-53.

"They were a good team," Patriot point guard Jennie Joy said after a performance that included 12 points, five steals and five assists. "But we had to settle down on defense and take our time on offense. We can be very impatient. You have to keep your head up. You can't let it get to you."

Seagraves helped put the brakes on an 18-6 Cav run that began late in the third period with a feed to Kayla Herm for a two points. A quick steal and a layup by Joy made it 58-53.

Seagraves, who finished with 14 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists, came up big in the final two minutes. She blocked a shot at one end and then received a pass back from McKenzie, increasing the lead to seven.

A three by the Cavs' Yasmine Butler made things interesting again. But Seagraves worked the same play with Herm for the basket that all but wrapped up the third Patriot win in a row.

"She (Herm) was posted up, and coach says when her hands are up just give it straight to her," Seagraves said of the critical baskets. "She put up the shots like we do in practice."

The Patriots return to action on Tuesday with a game at Red Springs. The Patriots began the week with a 58-26 home victory over the Red Devils.

Pinecrest 21 9 18 14 - 62

Southern Lee 9 16 17 15 - 57

Pinecrest - Joy 5 0-2 12, Painter 2 0-0 4, Thomas 1 0-0 2, Seagraves 6 2-3 14, Herm 4 0-0 8, Williams 3 3-6 9, Lynch 0 0-0 0, McKenzie 3 2-2 11, Smith 0 0-1 0, Horne 0 2-2 2. Totals 24 9-16 62. Southern Lee - Taylor 4 4-5 13, Bunnell 0 1-2 1, Smithwick 6 3-9 15, Daniel 4 0-0 9, Fox 2 0-0 5, Butler 5 0-0 11, Jenkins 1 1-2 3. Totals 22 9-18 57.

Pinecrest 10 11 3 10 - 34

Western Harnett 7 14 15 9 - 45

Pinecrest - Joy 3 0-0 7, Painter 1 2-3 4, Thomas 2 0-2 5, Herm 0 0-0 0, Seagraves 2 4-6 8, Lynch 0 0-0 0, Smith 3 0-0 6, McKenzie 0 0-0 0, Horne 0 0-2 0, Williams 2 0-0 4. Totals 13 6-13 34. Western Harnett - Womack 4 2-8 12, Womble 4 2-4 12, Hubbard 1 0-0 2, Elliott 0 0-3 0, Jordan 0 0-1 0, Trapp 1 0-3 2, Bursey 6 5-10 17. Totals 16 9-29 45.