PORTSMOUTH - If it wasn't for close games, the South Point Lady Pointers might not play.

The Lady Pointers dropped another heartbreaker Thursday as they fell 50-47 to the Portsmouth Lady Trojans. It was South Point's fifth loss in as many games and third by four points or less.

"We're playing harder, but the competition level is high," Lady Pointers coach Dave Adams said. "The wins are going to fall our way later. Right now we have some little things to fix, but nothing big."

Jessi Craft had four points in the first quarter as South Point took a 10-9 lead. Tonya McKenzie got nine points in the second quarter as Portsmouth surged ahead 29-23 at the break.

Both teams scored 11 points in the third quarter and it was 40-34 heading into the final stanza.

Portsmouth led 47-41 late when South Point rallied to tie the game. But McKenzie - who had eight points in the quarter - scored to put the Lady Trojans up 49-47. They added a free throw to set the final score.

McKenzie led all scorers with 26 points. Ali Hull added 13 points for Portsmouth which won the first meeting 51-47.

Craft topped the Lady Pointers with 16 points. Alisha Bridges chipped in eight points.

The Lady Pointers are idle until Dec. 29-30 when they host the first annual Ford Motors Basketball Classic.

In the reserve game, South Point (2-2) won 35-30 as Sarah Lee scored 11 points, Vanessa Rogers 9 and Melissa Wheeler 7. Lansing had 9 for Portsmouth.

South Point10131113-47

Portsmouth9201110-50

SOUTH POINT (0-5): Alisha Bridges 1 0 6-10 8, Jessi Craft 7 0 2-3 16, Latisha Koukos 3 0 0-0 6, Elisha Joyce 3 0 0-1 6, Whitney Woody 2 0 0-0 4, Summer Malone 0 0 3-6 3, Jamie Moore 2 0 0-0 4, Sarah Lee 0 0 0-0 0, Amy Frasure 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18

0

11-20

47. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: Malone, Koukos.

PORTSMOUTH (4-2):

Faren Block 1 0 1-2 3, Brya Coleman 1 0 0-2 2, Tonya McKenzie 8 1 7-10 26, Sarah Barney 1 0 1-2 3, Ali Hull 4 1 2-2 13, Emma Brown 0 0 3-4 3. Totals: 15

2

14-22

50. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.