Missed opportunities and mistakes were the reason the Pike Liberal Arts Lady Patriots dropped their first game of the year on the road in Greenville Tuesday night.

The No. 6 Lady Patriots (4-1) were 9-for-29 from the free throw line and committed 30 turnovers in a 63-58 double overtime loss to the Fort Dale Lady Eagles.

“You don’t deserve to win a game when you shoot under 35 percent from the free throw line and turn the ball over that many times,” PLAS head coach Steven Kilcrease said.

The Lady Eagles held Pike Liberal in check with a half court man defense all night and Kilcrease said the Lady Pats couldn’t handle the pressure. But he was happy with the team’s fight at the end of the game.

“We were down 10 at the half and we came back and tied it up at the end of regulation, but we just couldn’t keep it going in the second overtime,” he said. “But I was proud of how they fought back and at one point had a lead.”

The Lady Patriots have no room to breathe, as the No. 1 Lee-Scott Lady Warriors invade Troy Friday.

“We have to go back to work Wednesday and Thursday,” Kilcrease said. “We need to learn from our mistakes and move forward. We can’t dwell on this loss because we have to get ready for Lee-Scott.”

Eady Pinckard led the Lady Patriots with 29 points, Rebecca Farrar chipped in 12 points and Anna Saunders added 10 points.

The varsity boys’ squad (2-3) lost 46-34 to the Eagles.

The JV girls’ lost 31-9 and the JV boys’ won 26-15. Nick McLaughlin led all scorers with 15 points.

The JV girls’ team also lost Monday against Crenshaw Christian 28-17. Marlee Tunstill and Carlie Barron led the Lady Patriots with four points apiece.

The JV boys’ team took down Crenshaw Christian Monday, 30-21.

McLaughlin again led the team with 12 points and seven rebounds. Michael Maestri added 11 points and four rebounds. Chan Avant had four points.

The JV girls open the action Friday with Lee-Scott at 4 p.m. in Troy.