The Pinecrest boys' and girls' basketball teams both overcame offensive struggles with strong defensive performances in notching home wins over Red Springs Tuesday evening.

The Patriot girls, now 3-0, held the Red Devils to a total of nine points in the middle quarters of their 44-31 victory. Jennie Joy scored all of her team-high 12 points in the second half to lead the winners. Janea Williams contributed six points, 15 rebounds and three blocked shots to the Patriot cause.

Trailing 12-10 early in the second period, Shaniqua Collins began an 8-0 Patriot run by making both halves of a 1-and-1 opportunity at the foul line. Later Williams went coast-to-coast with a defensive board, and Keegan Lynch made 1-for-2 at the line making it 18-12. The visitors never got closer than four points after that.

The Patriot boys (2-1) survived 25 turnovers and a 20-point first half by Glenn Patterson, Jr. to defeat the Red Devils 59-51.

Knotted up at 29-29 at halftime, Faronte Drakeford, Antonio Jones and Phillip Wallace provided much of the Patriot offense to go with the tight guarding by Wallace on Patterson. The Red Devil guard was held to one field goal in the fourth period, finishing with 31 points.

Drakeford put together a double-double that included 14 points and 15 rebounds. Jones scored a team-high 15 points and Wallace finished with 12.

Both Patriot squads entertain Southern Lee on Thursday, beginning with the girls’ contest at 6 p.m.