Pike Liberal Arts head coach Craig Kennedy had seen the type of game the Patriots played against Abbeville Christian on Friday before. Most recently, the last time the schools matched up.

The results were similar as well.

As in the previous meeting, Pike Liberal Arts girls team fell in a defensive battle, while the boys squad build an early lead just to watch it disappear and fought of the Generals late for the win.

The Pike Liberal Arts girls lost to Abbeville, 20-19, on Friday. The boys claimed a 53-43 win in the late game.

“Every coach makes adjustments when they play a team for a second time,” Kennedy said. “The reality is who has the greater desire level. You have to come out and match their intensity and someone has to pick up the slack.”

For the girls, Katie Ward scored 12 of the Patriots 19 points.

Rush Hixon led the Patriots boys squad with 18 points. Chandler Avant had 13 and Marquese Christian added another 13.

Oddly, Christian scored all of his points in the first half while Avant recorded all of his in the second half.

The girls drop to 9-9 on the season while the boys improve to 10-7.

The teams will visit Class 3A rival Macon-East on Jan. 8 before returning home to face Evangel on Jan. 10. The Patriots will then head to Greenville to play Fort Dale on Jan. 11.

“As we get closer to area play, I’m just looking for steady improvement and hopefully a consistent high level of play,” Kennedy said. “These boys and girls are working hard and really working on fundamentals than will pay off.”