Pike Lib’s Lady Patriots pulled out a 51-39 win over Abbeville Academy on Thursday.

“It was the same as our last two losses,” said Patriots head coach Robert Hawkins. “We have to learn to take care of the basketball in order for us to be a good team. If we don’t, we will be an average team. Right now we are an average team.”

Lauren Johnson knocked down a team-leading 14 points in the opening half.

“They were manning Regine Parker,” Hawkins said. “She was able to follow up her shots tonight, and she was able to follow that up with easy shots. I thought Mya Terry did a good job for us as well.”

The teams traded basket for basket in the opening quarter and Pike Lib entered the second quarter with a 19-12. In the second quarter Johnson took off by scoring 12 of her 16 first half points. The Patriots entered the locker room at half time holding a 29-20 lead.

Terry also scored eight points in the half, six of which came in the opening quarter.

Throughout the game the Patriots played a patient offense, waiting for the perfect shot.

“We worked on that this weekend,” Hawkins said. “We know that we are a smaller team defensively, that we are better off holding the ball. “

In the second half the Patriots turned up the defense and turned multiple third quarter turnovers into easy transition points.

“I thought we were sloppy until the fourth quarter,” Hawkins said. “All they were trying to do is get to the baseline. We preach sideline and baseline. We try and push them to the sideline and beat them to the baseline which they started doing in the fourth quarter.”

Susie Stell who finished the quarter with six points. Johnson finished the game with a game high 16 points. Parker finished the game with 15 points while Stell finished in double figures with 10 points on the evening.

The Lady Patriots will travel to Abbeville for a tournament starting this afternoon when they take on Westwood High School of Georgia starting at 2 p.m.