WINDSOR – The Falcons continue to struggle closing out games.

Bertie High School Boys’ Basketball Coach Calvin Moore has commented many times this season about how his team has to learn to close out games.

They weren’t able to do it again Tuesday night when they led 44-40 in the fourth quarter only to see Pasquotank County High School close the game on a 19-5 tear and win 60-49.

The loss dropped Bertie to 5-12 overall and 2-6 in the Northeastern Coastal Conference.

The Falcons’ biggest lead came late in the third quarter when they held a 40-33 advantage over Pasquotank following back-to-back hoops from Tyson Perry and Curtis Moore.

The Panthers, however, closed the quarter with a 7-0 spurt off scores from Darius Heyward, Clint Saunders and David Thomas to deadlock the score at 40-all heading into the final period.

The Falcons opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back buckets from Brandon Brown and Perry to take that 44-40 lead, but Pasquotank roared back.

Following a Jason Moore free throw for PCHS, the Panthers got a triple from Heyward and a deuce by Melvin Boyce to take a 46-44 lead.

Bertie was able to tie the score at 46 on a Perry hoop, but the Panthers continued their roll. Thomas sandwiched a pair of three-pointers around a hoop by Brynson Barnes to push the Panthers ahead 54-46. Heyward added a pair of free throws before Perry scored Bertie’s final hoop on a three-pointer that trimmed the Falcon deficit to 56-49.

The Panthers hit a pair of free throws and a hoop down the stretch to seal the victory.

Perry had 19 points to lead the Falcons while Brown was also in double figures with 10. Heyward (12 points) and Boyce (11) led Pasquotank.

The Falcons did get off to a quick start, leading 5-2 after a Brown three-pointer early in the contest. Pasquotank came back to tie the score at 9-all.

Brown’s three-pointer and two free throws from O.J. Dobbin allowed the Falcons to lead 14-11 after one quarter.

Bertie extended their lead by four over the opening minutes of the second period, but an 8-0 spurt for the Panthers allowed the visiting team to urge ahead 23-21 and they held the lead through the first half.

Bertie will travel to First Flight Friday night before returning home Tuesday for a conference game with Edenton.

PCHS (60): Darius Heyward n 12, Melvin Boyce n 11, Jason Moore n 9, David Thomas n 8, Cordero Riddick n 5, Lahquan Perry n 5, Brynson Barnes n 5, Clint Saunders n 5

Bertie (49): Tyson Perry n 19, Brandon Brown n 10, Dequan Williams n 8, O.J. Dobbins n 5, Travis Bond n 3, Curtis Moore n 2, Desmond Williams – 2