Pinehurst — Both Fullington Academy teams had chances to get a win Tuesday night over visiting Georgia Christian School. Only one of them, though, was able to do so.

That distinction went to coach Van Bailey’s Trojans who waged an uphill battle practically all game before prevailing, 54-51, to stay unbeaten (2-0) in Region 3-A play and reach .500 overall (3-3).

Coach Mike Cason’s Lady Trojans, meanwhile, faded down the stretch in a 41-32 loss that altered their report card to 3-7 in all games and 1-1 in region play.

Both Fullington squads return to the hardwood on Friday, visiting Randolph Southern for competition getting under way at 6:30 p.m.

Trojans 54, Generals 51

Plagued by their own impatience in a first half that saw the Generals seize a 10-5 first period lead and own a 24-17 advantage at intermission, the Trojans slowly but surely crept back into contention.

By the third stanza’s end, the home team had pulled to within three points of their guest at 40-37 only to find themselves facing an eight-point deficit two minutes later before springing to life.

Jim Hartin nailed one trey and upon being fouled on another attempt from beyond the 3-point hit the resulting three free throws to make it a two-point game.

Still down by three as the clock continued to tick, David Roney first skied to grab a teammate’s errant shot and stick it back into the basket to pull the Trojans within one. Then after Fullington followed with a big defensive stop, Roney scored again to give the team its first lead of the evening. It wouldn’t relinquish it.

“We had a sluggish first half when we weren’t taking the time to get better looks at the basket before we’d shoot plus we also had about a dozen turnovers,” Bailey said.

“The second half, we passed and took care of the ball much better and it paid off as that’s when we hit four of our six treys (three by Mark McCleskey and one by Braden Shealy).

“Daniel Cape also gave us a big lift with the defensive job he did on (GCS’) C.J. Lynch, one of the better post players in the GISA, after Roney got into foul trouble.

“As a team, we wound up showing a lot of heart and grit and in the end that was what got us the win.”

McCleskey finished with 18 points and Roney wound up with 14 for the Trojans. Jeremiah Beverly and Lynch bagged 17 and 12, respectively, for the Generals.

Score by Quarters

Georgia Christian 10-14-16-11 — 51

Fullington Academy 5-12-20-17 — 54

Scoring

   Ga. Christian (51) — Quenton Carter 3, C.J. Lynch 12, Jeremiah Beverly 17, Josiah Vaughn 10, Colson Guthrie 2, Zack Bunion 5, Christian Wisenbaker 2.

   Team totals: field goals 21; free throws 7 of 10 (70%); fouls 17; 3-pointers — Beverly 1, Vaughn 1; fouled out — none.

   Fullington (54) — Levi McKinney 6, Jim Hartin 8, Braden Shealy 6, Mark McCleskey 18, Daniel Cape 2, David Roney 14, Dane Bailey, Gavin Reed.

   Team totals: field goals 17; free throws 14 of 20 (50%); fouls 11; 3-pointers — Hartin 1, Shealy 1, McCleskey 4; fouled out — none.

GCS 41, Fullington 32 (girls)

After trailing by slim margins of 8-7, 20-18 and 25-23 at the first three period breaks, Fullington still was within two and hopeful of victory just past the midway mark of the final stanza.

The proverbial bottom fell out in the remaining time, though, as a couple of Lady Trojan turnovers and missed shots allowed the Lady Generals to pull away down the stretch.

“We had our chances, but just couldn’t capitalize on them,” Cason said. “Even in defeat, though, we did a really good job on defense especially against their big girl (6-foot-3 Lindsey Levings, a recent transfer from Echols County). To hold  that bunch to 41 points is an accomplishment as they and Crisp are probably the top two teams in our region.”

Rachel McCleskey took high point honors for Fullington and the game with 19.

Score by Quarters

Georgia Christian 8-12-5-16 — 41

Fullington Academy 7-11-5-9 — 32

Scoring

   Ga. Christian (41) — Caitlin Brown 2, Haley Garrett 8, Lauren Redston 8, Erin Copeland 3, Devon Borderlon 9, Morgan Sykes 4, Lindsey Levings 7.

   Team totals: field goals 17; free throws 7 of 11 (63.6%); fouls 12; 3-pointers — none; fouled out — none.

   Fullington (32) — Darrian Bailey 2, Lena van Assendelft 2, Rachel McCleskey 19, Leah Thompson, Madison Warbington 9, Lex van Assendelft, Alyssa Edwards.

   Team totals: field goals 9; free throws 10 of 17 (52.9.%); fouls 17; 3-pointers — McCleskey 1, Warbington 3; fouled out — none.