Two Pike County teams traveled south the day after Christmas to compete in the annual Dothan Eagle Christmas Prep Classic.

Neither would receive belated Christmas presents however.

Both the Charles Henderson and the Pike County varsity squads were in action against out-of-state teams, and both were bounced in the first round.

PCHS was the first of the two to play, as the Bulldogs went up against Pensacola, but thanks to 34 turnovers, the Tigers were able to cruise to a 79-54 victory.

“We can’t win like that,” PCHS head coach Will Moguel said about the turnovers against Pensacola.

“They pressed us all night long and it was something we couldn’t handle.”

The loss dropped the Bulldogs to 2-5 on the season.

“Right now, consistency is our biggest problem,” the coach said. “We don’t have any.”

“When we are playing our best, we are tough to beat, I think, but when we are not it gets pretty ugly.”

The team shot just 52 percent from the floor, hitting 20 of its 38 shots while Pensacola shot just four percentage points better at 56 percent.

Kendrick Jackson led the way for PCHS with 15 points, while David Foster added 13.

The main difference came from Pensacola’s ability to hit 3-pointers.

The Tigers’ first six baskets came from beyond the arc.

As far as what PCHS has to do to get better, Moguel has a simple answer but one that carried a lot of weight.

“We have got to keep working – Area play is right around the corner and we need to be prepared for the tough competition that is coming up,” he said.

The Bulldogs begin Area play against Headland Home on Jan. 5.

“It’s going to be tough,” Moguel said about Area play.

“There are a lot of very well coached teams that we will have to play.

“We going to continue to work and hopefully things start clicking,” he added. “I still think we will be competitive during Area though.”

As for the Trojans, it didn’t get much easier.

Whitefield Academy continued CHHS’ losing streak thanks to its 58-31 win Saturday night.

The loss is the Trojans’ fourth-in-a-row.

CHHS hit only three field goals in the first half, as the team trailed 36-9 at the end of two quarters of play.

“I am going to give [the players] a couple days off and then get back to practice,” head coach Carl Hollis said.

“We aren’t going to change anything we have been doing.”

The loss drops the Trojans to 4-6 on the season.

Justin Davis led CHHS in points with 12 with Mitch McLeod adding 10.

“[Whitefield] set the tone right from the start. We got behind and couldn’t catch up.

“We need to come back and learn from our mistakes to get better. I think this team can learn a lot from Whitefield,” Hollis said.

“They were not a big team at all but they were quick, strong and coachable – and that made all the difference.

“Hopefully, we will be able to learn from it, and get back on track,” the coach added.

CHHS will be in action on Jan. 5 as the team begins Area play against Carroll High School.