Fox Creek High School's D.J. Curry pumped in 23 points, and teammate Quadre Castleberry added 20, but that was almost all that the Predators could muster Thursday evening in a 71-50 home loss to Calhoun County, ending the Predators' two-game winning streak.

"We turned the ball over a lot and didn't score," Predators coach Andre Baskett said of the combination that added up to a lopsided loss. "We didn't handle the pressure."

Baskett's bunch, which played at Williston-Elko Tuesday, slipped to a record of 2-8 overall and 1-5 in Region 4-A. Fox Creek is to be back on the road today (Thursday) versus Ridge Spring-Monetta and at home Friday against Hunter-Kinard-Tyler.

Against Calhoun County, the Predators struggled to find any offensive rhythm and, at times, looked overwhelmed by the Saints' pressure defense.

Calhoun County (9-3) opened the game scoring the first seven points for a lead it never surrendered. Most of the scoring came courtesy of its trapping defense, which baffled Fox Creek.

The week had begun with a lopsided win for Fox Creek, which dumped Blackville-Hilda 61-40 Tuesday in a home game. The Predators were led by Castleberry, who scored 23 points, and Curry, who added 22.

Baskett, describing Calhoun County's approach, said, "They wear you down with pressure. I told our guys to relax. Stay calm against it, but they came out with the press, run and jumped and scored on layups. ... We've got to learn how to play through pressure. It gets us rattled."

In spite of their troubles, which included a meager four points in the first quarter, the Predators were only down by nine entering the second period.

But the second quarter started much like the first had, as Calhoun County blitzed Fox Creek with pressure and easy baskets.

The Saints scored five points in the quarter before the Predators attempted a single shot. Calhoun County opened the quarter with 11 consecutive points, that were part of a larger 15-0 run. It led 24-4 and held Fox Creek scoreless for nearly 3 minutes until Castleberry hit a pair of free throws.

From that point on, the Predators found their scoring touch for the remainder of the first half. But it was too late, as the Saints had already built an insurmountable lead.

The Saints are well-respected at this point in the season, being ranked sixth among A-level teams in the High School Sports Report's most recent poll of A-level teams. Great Falls is in the top spot, followed in order by Landrum, Johnsonville, Burke, Christ Church, Calhoun County, Allendale-Fairfax, Carver's Bay, McCormick and Whale Branch.