MARION – The Francis Marion Rams couldn’t match up to the top ranked Sumter County Wildcats, losing 59-44 Friday night.

“We started out ok at the beginning,” Rams coach Woody Jackson said, “but we have a young team this year. Many times when we play a caliber of a team like Sumter County that uses a pressure defense, we tend to get in trouble.”

That was the story Friday night. The Rams stayed close and trailed by just two points at the end of the first quarter.

The Wildcats scored eight consecutive points to start the second quarter to go up 10. Francis Marion came back with seven of their own, including a three-pointer by Kelvin Curry.

The Rams (5-10, 3-2 in area play) didn’t score for the last 2:30 of the second period and found themselves down 30-21 at half time.

The Wildcats slowed the tempo in the third period in order to nurse their lead. The Rams hung tough and matched Sumter County point for point, but still trailed 43-34 at the end of the third.

Francis Marion didn’t put points on the board for the first 3:30 of the final period. Meanwhile, e was 4:30 showing on the clock, meanwhile Sumter County added 10 points in the stretch to go up 19.

That final run was all the Wildcats

needed to seal the victory.

Curry topped the Rams with 12 points. Dwayne Woods added eight points.

Temorris Coleman led all scorers with 21 for the Wildcats.