The Pinecrest girls were defeated 48-43 at Middle Creek Monday night in a hard fought first round 4A state basketball tournament game.

The Patriots finished with a record of 17-8, making it the program’s most successful season in more than a decade. The Mustangs (18-8) advanced to a second round game tonight at Millbrook (27-1).

The Patriots jumped out to a 19-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. Jennie Joy had 12 points and Janea Williams had six as they clung to a 27-24 halftime lead. The two teams were tied at 33-33 through three quarters.

Mary Johnston, who had made only two threes coming into the game, sank two in the fourth quarter to give the Mustangs the lead. With the ball, and trailing by a point going into the final minute of the game, the Patriots were held scoreless while the Mustangs scored their final four points at the free throw line.

Joy finished with 18 points and Williams was also in double figures with 10. Richmond Senior, the Southeastern Conference champion, was upset 36-32 by Knightdale. The league’s other two playoff teams, Lumberton and Scotland County, were also first round casualties.

First-year Patriot coach Mike Loutzenheiser was proud of the way his players responded to the challenges provided by the postseason games against Lumberton and Middle Creek.

“We talk all the time about leaving it on the floor and making sure we’re playing hard,” he said. “We never want to look back and have regrets. I was incredibly proud of the effort they gave at Lumberton in the conference semifinal and tonight.”

Contact Charlie Bergmann at cbergmann@nc.rr.com.

Middle Creek 48, Pinecrest 43

Pinecrest 19 8 6 10 43

Middle Creek 14 10 9 15 48

Pinecrest – Joy 7 4-6 18, Collins 3 1-2 7, Painter 2 1-2 5, Lynch 0 0-0 0, McKenzie 1 1-1 3, Smith 0 0-0 0, Williams 3 4-8 10, Wrencher 0 0-0 0, Little 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 11-19 43. Middle Creek – Tyson 2 1-1 5, Murdock 0 1-1 1, Dohrer 2 2-4 6, Murdock 3 0-0 9, Shaw 1 2-6 5, Ruch 0 5-7 5, Johnston 2 1-2 7, Battle 4 2-2 10. Totals 14 14-22 48. Three-point goals: (M) 6 (Murdock 3, Johnston 2, Shaw).