Adam Cummings scored his team’s final 11 points of the game, helping Pinecrest defeat Scotland County 56-43 in Laurinburg Tuesday evening.

Sophomore Brendan Ortiz led the Patriots with 14 points as they improved to 1-1 in the Southeastern Conference and 6-10 overall. Cummings and Traivon Williams finished with 13 apiece and Justin Ray added 11. Williams also grabbed a dozen rebounds.

The Patriot girls were defeated 39-34 by the Scots in the opener, falling to 0-2 in the league and 7-8 overall.

In a defensive struggle devoid of runs, the Patriots never trailed, but the Scots stayed within five points until Ray was fouled midway through the third period and made a pair for a 33-26 lead. It was 39-36 early in the fourth when the Pats finally took command.

A 9-0 run began with another drive for two by Ray. Ortiz sank a runner before making a jumper from the side off a pass from Cummings. Cummings then brought the ball up court after a Scot miss and popped a three, making it 48-36 with 3:38 remaining in the contest.

The Scots closed it to 48-41, but doing most of the ball-handling with the Scots in a desperation mode, Cummings twice broke the pressure for layups and then finished up by going 4-for-4 from the line.

The Patriot girls were unable to match the intensity of the Scots in a first half that ended with the home team on top 28-17. Freshman Jasmine Chalmers sparked a third quarter rally that got the Pats back in the game.

Late in the period she turned a steal into a Felicia Painter jumper for two that cut the deficit to 30-29. But, after three Patriot turnovers in a row, the Scots got some breathing room on a three point play by Ariel Ratliff. The Pats were ice-cold after that, going 2-for 12 from the field in the quarter.

Chalmers finished with 11 points, three steals and three assists. Ratliff led the Scots, now 2-0 in the league with 10 points. Both Patriot squads entertain Purnell Swett in another league game on Friday, beginning with the girls’ contest at 6 p.m.