LAURINBURG — Through the first two quarters of its game against Seventy-First on Tuesday night, Scotland’s boys basketball team seemed like it would have a shot at upsetting one of the Sandhills Athletic Conference’s leaders.
The Fighting Scots used a 14-0 run to take the lead after the Falcons scored the first eight points of the game. The lead changed hands multiple times throughout the rest of the half, but the Scots held a 31-30 advantage at halftime.
All of the momentum Scotland built up seemed to disappear when they came out of the locker rooms for the second half. The Falcons outscored the hosts 17-5 in the third quarter and ran away with a 60-45 win, handing Scotland its first loss in its newly renovated gym.
“We couldn’t buy a basket,” Scotland head coach Matt Justin said of his team’s second-half performance.
The Falcons outscored the Scots 30-14 over the final two quarters.
Antwone Smith had nine points and Trey Graham added eight points for the Fighting Scots (7-14, 4-7).
Xzavier Howard scored 16 points for the Falcons (18-3, 8-3), who stretched their winning streak to four games.
Lady Scots fall to Seventy-First
The Scotland girls basketball team closed their deficit to 10 points in the fourth quarter, but they couldn’t get any closer to Seventy-First in a 56-40 loss to the Lady Falcons on Tuesday.
Asjah Swindell scored 15 points for the Lady Scots (8-13, 2-9). Niaria Leach added 13 points.
Amira Coles scored 16 points for the Lady Falcons (12-8, 8-3).
Seventy-First won its third straight game. The Lady Scots lost their second consecutive matchup.
Scotland finished 6-of-11 from the free throw line.
Next up
Scotland’s varsity team have three regular season games left. They host Pinecrest on Friday and play at Lumberton on Tuesday before facing Richmond on Feb. 15.
