By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

PORTSMOUTH — The Green Bobcats need to get their engine warmed up a little sooner.

Green fell behind early and couldn’t quite fight back all the way in the second half as the Bobcats lost 63-54 to the Portsmouth Clay Panthers Friday in a battle for first place in the Southern Ohio Conference.

“We were too passive early,” said Green coach Bobby Blanton. “In the second half we started battling and taking the ball to the basket. We just didn’t hit some shots at the end.”

Clay is now atop the SOC standings at 4-0 and Green is 5-1 in the league and 6-3 overall.

Green took a 5-0 lead to start the game and Pat Pierce scored nine of his 11 points and it was 11-7. But Clay went on a 12-0 run to end the quarter and take a 19-11 lead.

T.J. McCloud scored five points in the second quarter as Green got within 32-26 at the half.

“We played our hearts out. I can’t fault our effort,” said Blanton.

McCloud had six points in the third quarter as each team scored 14 points to make it 46-40.

Cody Bruce had 12 points in the fourth quarter as Green got within three points, but Clay converted 9 of 16 at the line down the stretch to pull away.

Bruce led Green with 20 points and 10 rebounds. McCloud had 13 points and six rebounds. Chad Lewis had six rebounds and took three charges.

Josh Porter scored 17, Nathan Burchett 12 and Cody Bussler 11 to lead Clay (5-4).

Green 11 15 14 14 = 54

Ports. Clay 19 13 14 18 = 63

GREEN (6-3, 5-1): Tyler Hughes 3 0 0-1 6, Pat Pierce 4 1 0-2 11, Clay Applegate 0 0 0-0 0, Cody Bruce 8 0 4-9 20, T.J. McCloud 5 1 0-0 13, Chad Lewis 2 0 0-0 4, Tyler Crace 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 24-57 4-12 54. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: McCloud. 3-point goals: 2-11. Rebounds: 24 (Bruce 10, McCloud 6, Lewis 6). Assists: 6 (Pierce 4, Hughes 2). Steals: 6 (Hughes 4). Turnovers: 10.

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (5-4, 4-0): Cody Delotell 2 1 1-2 8, Jon Valentine 2 1 0-4 7, Cody Bussler 3 1 2-4 11, Nathan Burchett 1 2 4-6 12, Josh Porter 7 0 3-4 17, Max Graham 2 0 4-5 8, Chandler King 0 0 0-0 0, Chase Hiles 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 5 14-25 63. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None.