The Scotland High School men’s junior varsity basketball team dropped their third game of the season Monday night at home, as Southern Lee toppled the Scots 60-53 in overtime.

Scotland (0-3) surrendered nine points off eight turnovers in the first quarter, but rallied to take a 24-20 lead at halftime before allowing 12 points in overtime to the Cavaliers.

Tyricus Love’s 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds to go in regulation tied the contest at 48-48 to force extra time, but Scotland was held to just one field goal for the first three minutes of overtime, while the Cavaliers used an 11-3 run to end any hope of the Scots earning their first win of the season.

Marquis Williams led Scotland with 14 points and 13 rebounds, securing a double-double in the loss. Jaylend Ratliffe also finished with a double-double, scoring 10 points while grabbing 11 rebounds.

Love finished with 13 points, pacing the Scots with three assists in the loss.

“I’m proud of my guys tonight,” Scotland head coach Steve Hamilton said. “We came out and looked a lot better tonight. Our execution was there, but turnovers and lay-ups killed us tonight. We have to get better. We have to improve.

“To tell the truth, we beat ourselves,” he said. “Southern Lee is a good team, but I feel like we were the better competitor tonight. We let one slip away from us. We should have gotten it in overtime.”

Scotland struggled in the first quarter to hold onto the ball, committing six turnovers in the first three minutes of the game. Scotland’s miscues led to easy baskets for the Cavaliers, as Southern Lee turned eight first-quarter turnovers into nine points to take a 15-9 advantage in the first period.

Scotland’s tighter handle in the second quarter allowed the Scots to battle back before halftime, as Scotland outscored the Cavaliers 15-5 in the second period while giving away the ball just three times in the quarter. Scotland tied the game at 18-18 on a Shykeim Oliver lay-up, and four consecutive points from Williams to close the half sent Scotland into the break with a 24-20 advantage.

Southern Lee’s offense regained its momentum in the third period, lighting Scotland up for 15 points in the quarter to tie the game up at 35-35.

Both teams scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, but Scotland battled back from a four-point deficit to tie the game up to force overtime. Down 48-45 with just seconds remaining, Love took an inbounds pass after a Cavalier free throw, squaring up from the right wing. Love fired a shot that banked off the glass with 2.6 seconds remaining, sending the game into extra time with the 3-ball.

Despite Scotland’s late comeback attempt, the Scots’ offense fizzled in overtime, scoring just five points to the Cavaliers’ 12. Love hit the Scots' lone field goal in the first three minutes of the extra period, as Southern Lee used an 11-3 run in overtime to end Scotland’s comeback bid.

Trejon Monley added two assists for the Scots, with Oliver grabbing five boards.

Scotland will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 13, when they travel to Marlboro County to take on the Bulldogs.

The men’s game will follow the women’s game, which is set to start at 6 p.m.

Varsity falls in barn-burner

Caison Murphy and Reggie Jones led Scotland in scoring, but their efforts weren't enough on the road, as the Fighting Scots’ men’s varsity basketball team dropped a 78-72 decision to Southern Lee Monday night.

Down by as many as 23 in the second half, Scotland (1-2) cut the Cavaliers’ lead down to six late in the contest, but Southern Lee’s first-half blitz was just enough to hold off the Scots.

“We lost a nail-biter tonight,” Scotland head coach Michael Dease said. “Southern Lee was on fire tonight and hit some critical 3-pointers in the first half. We were down by as many as 16 in the first half, but battled back to cut the lead to 10 at halftime.

“In the second half, they hit us early again, but we responded with a late run,” he said. “We just ran out of time. I’m looking forward to the game against Marlboro with the competitiveness we showed tonight.”

Scotland will take on the Bulldogs at home Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Freshmen win

The Scotland High School ninth grade men’s basketball team picked up their first victory of the season Monday night, toppling Purnell Swett 50-49 on the road.

Kendrick Scott led Scotland (1-3) with 27 points, while Quadrin Williams added 14 for the Scots.

“We started a different line-up tonight just to keep some of our guys fresh,” Scotland head coach James Bethea said. “It worked well in the second half. After the second quarter, we did a much better job defensively and pretty much shut them down. We tied the game up at the end of the third quarter and we were able to pull it out.

“I’m really proud of the way our kids played tonight,” he said. “They came together from the second quarter on. We still have to work on a few things, like hitting our free throws and our lay-ups, but other than that, they played excellent. They wanted the win tonight and they poured their hearts into the game."

Scotland’s freshmen will return to action after the holidays, resuming play on Jan. 9 when they travel to Lumberton, N.C., to take on the Pirates.