by Charlie Bergmann

Special to The Pilot

Pinecrest bigs Felicia Painter and Janea Williams shut off over-matched Purnell Swett's scoring options inside. The tenacious Patriot guards denied good looks from around the perimeter.

The Rams were limited to one basket in each of the first, second and fourth quarters and none in the third. The visiting Patriots prevailed 42-9 Friday night, improving to 8-6 overall and 1-1 in the Southeastern Conference while the home team fell to 0-11 and 0-3.

The 6-foot Painter went 10-for-13 from the field, scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Williams, 6-3, finished with eight points and 12 boards. Each accounted for six of the 22 Patriot steals.

"It was a great way to lift our spirits after the Lumberton game," Patriot coach Janie Hodges said, referring to a tough loss at home the previous Friday. "Everybody got a chance to play and it was a win. It's a good way to go into next week's games against Scotland and Richmond."

With Williams assisting on two of her baskets, Painter scored 10 points, and Jasmine Chalmers contributed a three, as the Patriots took a 20-2 lead at the end of one quarter. The lead became 20 points when Judith Lawhon set up Williams for a jumper that made it 22-2 early in the second.

"Janea and I had a great high-low game tonight," Painter said. "We were connecting well. We got the job done."

The Rams did a good job of shutting off entry passes inside the rest of the way, limiting the Patriots to a total of 10 points in the middle quarters. The Pats scored the final six points of the game on baskets by Williams, Megan Thomas and a pair of free throws by Natoya Lacy.

The Patriots are scheduled to entertain defending SEC champion Scotland High (10-2, 2-0) on Thursday before traveling to Richmond Senior (5-9, 2-1) on Friday.

"Next week will be two good games to play," Painter said. "We will prepare in practice and be ready to play."

Pinecrest 20 6 4 12 - 42

Purnell Swett 2 5 0 2 - 9

Pinecrest: Chalmers 1 0-0 3, Painter 10 1-2 21, Lynch 0 0-0 0, Paran 0 2-2 2, Williams 4 0-0 8, Waddell 0 0-0 0, Lawhon 1 0-0 2, M. Thomas 1 0-0 2, Alston 0 0-0 0, Fairley 1 0-0 2, Gaffney 0 0-0 0, Lacy 0 2-2 2, Z. Thomas 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 5-6 42.

Purnell Swett: T. Locklear 1 0-0 2, J. Bird 0 0-0 0, Chavis 0 0-2 0, Lowry 0 0-0 0, F. Locklear 1 0-0 3, Henderson 0 2-4 2, Hunt 1 0-2 2. Totals 3 2-8 9.

Three-point goals: PS 1 (F. Locklear); P 1 (Chalmers).