The Pinecrest boys got off to a horrendous start against Scotland County at James Moore Gymnasium Tuesday evening on the way to a 50-34 loss.

The Patriots dropped to 2-5 in the Southeastern Conference and 7-14 overall after their third loss in a row. The Scots improved to 1-6 and 5-13 with their first league win of the season.

The visitors had a 17-0 lead three minutes into the second quarter when the Pats’ Adam Cummings broke the drought with a three. The home team provided a hint of a rally when Cummings and Justin Ray turned steals on back-to-back possessions into baskets, making it 27-16 early in the third period.

That was as close as the Pats would get. The Scots quickly stretched the margin to 36-16 with a 9-0 run.

Cummings led the Patriots with 15 points, including four threes. No other Patriot scored more than five points. Reggie Jones also made four treys for the Scots, finishing with 22 points.

The Patriots travel to Purnell Swett (4-3, 12-6) Friday for a game scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Scotland 10 13 17 10 — 50

Pinecrest 0 10 15 9 — 34

Scotland: McRae 1 0-0 2, Green 4 0-0 8, T. Jones 0 0-2 0, Petty 2 2-4 6, I. Robinson 1 0-2 2, R. Jones 8 2-2 22, McNeill 1 0-0 2, A. Robinson 0 2-2 2, Leak 1 2-2 4, Henderson 1 0-0 2. Totals 19 8-14 50.

Pinecrest: Martin-Calhoun 1 0-0 2, Ray 1 3-5 5, Brower 2 0-0 5, Ragin 1 0-0 3, Ortiz 0 0-0 0, Cummings 5 1-2 15, Fields 1 0-0 2, Williams 1 0-0 2, Painter 0 0-0 0, McNeill 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 4-7 34.

Three-point goals: S 4 (R. Jones 4); P 5 (Cummings 4, Brower).