BURGAW – On the strength of seven three-point baskets, the host Pender Patriots knocked off Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference-leading East Columbus 52-49 Friday night in area high school boys basketball action.

It was the first conference loss in two seasons for East Columbus, which has already clinched at least a share of the Waccamaw Conference title.

The loss put East Columbus’ conference record at 9-1 and its season record at 18-4. The Gators had come into the game with a nine-game winning streak. It was their first conference setback since the 2004-05 season.

The Patriots kept their hopes alive for tying for the conference title as the Patriots improved their conference record to 7-3.

East Columbus played the game without starting guard/forward B.J. Patrick. Patrick, a senior, sustained an ankle injury last week and was kept out action.

Raeford Hankins scored 16 points, including three 3-pointers to lead Pender scorers. J.C. Carter had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Patriots.

Jermaine Waddell scored 12 points to lead Coach Clarence Ganus’ Gators. Anthony Fields followed with 11 and Jerry Moore had 10. Moore, the Gators’ leading scorer, sat out much of the game after being saddled with a technical foul in the first quarter.

“It was a close game all the way, and Pender hit the big shots down the stretch,” Ganus said. “We had our chances, but it just didn’t seem to bounce our way.

“We’re disappointed by the loss, but in a way it might help to us in getting ready for what’s ahead,” Ganus said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to draw something positive from this.”

The Gators had won 23 consecutive games against Waccamaw Conference opponents dating back to the start of last seasons.

East Columbus, the defending Waccamaw Conference regular-season and tournament champion, held a 22-19 halftime lead and took a 31-30 advantage into the final quarter.

In a battle for sole possession of second place in the Waccamaw Conference girls race, Pender took a 51-38 victory over the Lady Gators.

Pender, which put its conference record at 8-2 while claiming its second win over East Columbus, rode the strong shooting of Latasha Holmes, who bucketed four 3-point baskets while scoring 19 points. Janetta Robinson followed with 10 points.

Jasmine Young scored 13 points for East Columbus, which trailed 22-16 at halftime.

Coach Karlyn Stephens’ ECHS girls team now has a 7-3 conference record and a 13-9 overall record.

East Columbus will play host to South Brunswick Tuesday before closing out its regular-season schedule next Friday at Trask.

GIRLS GAME

EAST COLUMBUS (38): Young 13, Bress 7, Bennett 7, Moore 7, Bracey 2.

PENDER (51): Holmes 19, Robinson 10, Grissom 9, Seabrooks 8, Roper 5.

BOYS GAME

EAST COLUMBUS (49): Clark 2, Freeman 9, Waddell 12, Ganus 5, Moore 10, Fields 11.

PENDER (52): Hankins 16, Harvey 5, Branch 8, Sutton 7, Lennon 4, Carter 12.