DUBLIN — After eight straight wins that put two tournament trophies in the trophy case, the Knights of West Bladen dropped their second Four County Conference game in a row, losing to visiting Pender County on Wednesday, 67-61.

The loss puts the Knights at 10-3 overall and 1-2 in the conference.

The patriots opened the game with a 13-7 run through the first quarter, but West Bladen answered with a better second stanza and outscored the visitors 17-15 to cut the deficit to 28-24 at halftime.

Coach Travis Pait made some adjustments at intermission and the Knights came out with a big third quarter, outscoring Pender County by a 22-18 margin and knotting the game at 46-46 going into the fourth frame.

But the Patriots owned the final 8 minutes, winning the period 21-15 to put the game away.

Stefan McDonald led West Bladen with 24 points behind four three-pointers, while John Bowen added 10 points and Sayaun Dent scored nine points.