A fast-paced start helped the Pike Liberal Arts Patriots defeat rival Fort Dale 57-46 on Tuesday.

“We wanted to come out fast tonight,” said head coach Alan Ponder. “We always come out slow and get behind. We wanted to make a point by coming out fast, and I think we did really good at that tonight.”

Unlike the girls’ team, the boys came out and fired on all cylinders on Tuesday. They jumped to an 11-2 lead and ended the quarter with a 19-7lead. The Patriots put the Eagles in pressure situations the majority of the night and turnovers were the result.

“We can score offensively and rebound the basketball,” Ponder said. “We have to be able to play defense in order to win basketball games. I thought we came out and did a good job.”

Ethan Green owned the second quarter, thanks to key three-pointers, and he tallied 10 first half points. The Patriots took a commanding 37-20 lead into the half.

The Patriots outscored the Eagles 16-5 in the third quarter thanks in large part to rotation from the bench. Unlike the first time the teams met this season, there was no drama heading down the stretch.

Ponder said the ability to rotate players off the bench in one-sided games has given the Patriots much-needed depth.

The win gives the Patriots a 2-0 record against Fort Dale this season, and Ponder said he likes that edge as they compete in a tough region.

“That’s very important,” Ponder said. “It’s even more important to win area games. We are very fortunate to come out and get two wins against them this year.”

Green led the Patriots in scoring Tuesday night with 14, while Marquese Christian finished with 11 and Dakota McConnell with 10 points.

The Patriots will be in action on Friday when the travel to take on Escambia.