By Charlie Bergmann

Special to The Pilot

The Pinecrest girls did not receive much of a test from Flora MacDonald in Tuesday's tune-up for tonight's Southeastern 4A Conference basketball opener at Lumberton.

The Patriots were led by Lizzie Smith with 13 points in the 61-7 romp over a hustling but painfully young Cougar squad in Red Springs. Felicia Painter recorded a double-double that included 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Candice Seagraves added 11 points in a little over one quarter of action, and Keegan Lynch contributed seven points, seven steals and four assists. Jenny Joy and Ashleigh McKenzie, who usually start at the guard positions for the Patriots, never took off their warm-ups.

All but two of the Cougars (the team's only seniors) also played in the earlier jayvee game won by Pinecrest 40-15. Seventh-grader Jamie Powers made a three in the fourth quarter for the home team's first points in the varsity contest.

The Patriot varsity takes a 7-4 record to Lumberton that includes a 68-65 victory over Richmond Senior in the title game of the recent Lady Patriot Holiday Invitational. The Pirates should also be a confident bunch. They are 8-2 overall and own a victory over 10th-ranked Seventy-First (NCPreps.com media poll).

The Patriot jayvee team improved to 4-3 with the win over Flora MacDonald. Taylor Wrencher led the way with 12 points and Alex Goodwin contributed 10 with a pair of threes.

Contact Charlie Bergmann at cbergmann@nc.rr.com