An almost nine-minute scoring drought sunk the Pinecrest girls in Friday night’s second game of the Holiday in the Pines basketball tournament against Hough at James Moore Gym.

With the contest tied at 16-16 with two minutes remaining in the first half, the Charlotte-area squad scored the next 17 points, carrying into the second period, to take a 33-16 lead. The Patriots scratched their way back to within four points in the last two minutes of the game, but it was too little, too late.

The 48-41 loss puts Patriot coach Janie Hodges’ team into Saturday’s 3 p.m. consolation game against Richmond Senior. The Raiders fell 68-15 to an undefeated Chapel Hill team that is on a rampage. Chapel Hill (8-0) and Hough (8-1) will play for the title at 4:30 p.m.

For Hodges, the Patriot story was one she has visited several times during the team’s 5-5 start to the season.

“We have to play from start to finish and tonight we came out flat,” she said.

In spite of a height disadvantage, the Huskies grabbed nine offensive rebounds in the first half. Second chance opportunities plus four treys by Taylor Junior helped distance them from the home team.

The Pats’ Megan Thomas broke the 17-0 run with a three, but the visitors took what looked like a comfortable 35-21 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Huskie lead was 11 when the Patriots made their move with five minutes remaining in the game. Threes by Jasmine Chalmers and Keegan Lynch helped cut it to 42-38. The Patriots were dominating the boards now. A putback moments later by Janea Williams made it a four-point differential again at 44-40. They had one chance in the final 1:30 to get closer, but turned the ball over.

The Patriots allowed only two baskets and out-scored Hough 20-13 in the final period. Painter finished with eight points, 16 rebounds, five steals and three blocked shots. Williams also scored eight points to go with 13 rebounds and three blocks. Chalmers contributed eight points, four assists and four steals. The Pats were just 16-for-60 from the field (26.6 percent).

The Huskies were led by Kelsey Dean with 19 points, including 11-for-12 from the foul line, and Junior with 17.

Hodges, who got very vocal with her team during a timeout in the third period, was asked what the main message would be to her players in the locker room.

“We live to play tomorrow — get better and play tomorrow,” she said. “That’s all I can say right now. You’ve got to want to win a basketball game. We can’t wait until the fourth quarter to play and win a basketball game.”

Hough 13 8 14 13 — 48

Pinecrest 12 4 5 20 — 41

Hough: Demarcus 3 1-2 7, T. Junior 6 1-2 17, Mayne 0 1-3 1, Dean 4 11-12 19, Brown 1 0-1 2, Cowie 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 14-20 48.

Pinecrest: Chalmers 2 3-6 8, Waddell 1 0-0 2, Painter 4 0-2 8, Lynch 2 0-0 5, Williams 3 2-6 8, M. Thomas 3 1-2 8, Alston 0 0-0 0, Paran 1 0-0 2, Fairley 0 0-0 0, Gaffney 0 0-0 0, Embler 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 6-16 41.

Three-point goals: H 4 (T.Junior 4); P 3 (M. Thomas, Lynch, Chalmers).