The Pinecrest girls faltered down the stretch, losing 48-44 at Scotland County Tuesday evening. The Patriot boys used a strong second half to defeat the Scots 57-45 in the nightcap.

Trailing 22-20 at halftime, a three by Keegan Lynch started a 12-2 run that gave the Patriot girls a 32-24 lead halfway through the third period. But the Scots scored the next nine points to retake the lead. A three-point play by Janea Williams, and another basket by Williams, put the Pats back in front 39-36 with 4:30 remaining in the game.

The Scots paraded to the foul line the rest of the way, going 11-for-16 in the final period. The Patriots trailed 45-39 by the time Shaniqua Collins finally got them back on the board with a jump shot at the 41.7 second mark.

Felicia Painter led the Patriots, now 14-5 overall and 4-3 in the Southeastern Conference, with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Williams added 11 points. Tyena Johnson topped the Scots with 18 points.

The Patriot boys, 17-4, 6-1, trailed 25-22 at halftime after making only three of 16 shots from the field in the second quarter.

Taking the ball to the hoop right from the start, Phillip Wallace, Faronte’ Drakeford and Antonio Jones each sank a pair at the charity stripe for the first six Patriot points of the third quarter. Later in the period, Wallace stole the ball and fed Traivon Williams for a dunk, giving the Patriots a 32-26 lead. They out-scored the Scots 18-8 in the quarter and took a 40-33 edge into the final eight minutes.

Drakeford scored nine of his game-high 17 points in the fourth quarter to help wrap up the road win for the first place Pats. Jones and Wallace were also in double figures with 11 and 10 points.

The Pinecrest varsity squads are scheduled to entertain Purnell Swett on Friday, beginning with the girls’ game at 6 p.m.