The Pinecrest freshmen came from behind to defeat Lumberton 54-45 in Thursday’s boys’ basketball opener at James Moore Gym.

Then the Pinecrest freshmen outscored Scotland High 18-7 in the final five minutes to gain a 52-48 home victory Monday afternoon.

Trailing 41-34, the Patriots used a full-court press to create the turnovers that helped fuel the comeback.

Led by Jadan Thompson and Daunylon Baldwin, with 10 points each, coach Steve Lassiter’s squad improved to 2-0.

Also getting into the scoring column for the winners were: Mishak McRae, 9, Maliek Stanford, 7, Nick Williamson, 5, Will Lassiter, 4, Shiheme McCrimmon, 4, and Justin Marks, 3.

In the win over Lumberton, the Patriots trailed most of the way, and by as many as eight points in the third quarter.

Baldwin led a fourth-period rally that gave the home team a 45-42 lead with about three minutes remaining in the game.

The game was knotted up at 45-45 with just over a minute left when the Pats’ Marks was fouled while spinning in the lane for a basket.

He made the free throw and converted two more later, as the home team completed the game with a 9-0 run.

Baldwin scored a team-high 15 points. Marks finished with 10 and Thomas chipped in with nine.

Falcon Boys Get Win

The O’Neal Falcons used defensive pressure to shut down Lee Christian Tuesday and spark the transition game in a 72-26 win at Lee Christian.

Jacob Talbert led O’Neal with 35 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Jack Johnston scored 12 with five rebounds, while John Roger Moore added 10 points and four steals.

Logan Butler helped key the Falcon defense with seven steals. Lee Christian was paced by Kevin Kemp with 14 points.

O’Neal (3-5, 0-1) played cross-county rival North Moore at home on Thursday.

‘Stang Grapplers Drop Two

The North Moore wrestling team traveled to Thomasville Wednesday to do battle with Mount Airy and 4-A Athens Drive High School out of Raleigh. The youthful Mustangs squad dropped both matches, losing to Mount Airy 75-6 and to Athens Drive 63-18.

The Mustangs were at a disadvantage from the start of each match, having to forfeit seven matches against Mount Airy and six against Athens Drive.

North Moore senior Kyle Kidd kept his record perfect on the season, winning both of his matches by pins in the 182-pound class.

Kidd took down Mount Airy’s Austin Branch at the 0:29 mark and Athens Drive’s Josh Young with 0:46 showing on the clock. Kidd was the lone winner in the Mount Airy match. Kidd improves his individual record to 12-0, with nine of those victories by pins.

Sophomore heavyweight (285 pounds) Joe Davis split his two matches, pinning Athens Drive’s Tyler Smith with 1:27 on the clock.

Davis lost to Mount Airy’s Jerry Bennett in the third round. Davis is now 8-5 in individual matches, with seven of those wins coming by pins.

Junior Matthew Guerrero (160 pounds) won his match against Athens Drive with a forfeit to improve his overall individual record to 3-0.

Senior Logan Stancil (145) lost two narrow decisions, but his record remains 6-4, with three pins for win.