The Suffolk Christian Academy boys’ basketball team keeps searching for positives in a season of rampant difficulties, but Portsmouth Christian School only made that search more challenging on Friday.

The Patriots held the Knights to 11 first-half points and even fewer in the second half as SCA, missing two of its best players to injury, fell 71-19.

Ron Carr, head coach of the Knights, said it is a hard time for his guys right now.

“I don’t know what to say,” he said. “They need a win.”

Suffolk Christian was without junior guard Eric Habecker, who recently underwent surgery on his toe. Also out was sophomore forward Steven Effler, who suffered a concussion brought on by collisions, the most recent during a Jan. 17 home game against Summit Christian Academy.

The Knights did have team captain and starting junior point guard Nathan Leiter, but only for part of the contest.

“During the game he got to feeling lightheaded,” Carr said. Consequently, he sat for part of the first half, but was ready to return in the second. Leiter led his team with 13 points, including a three-pointer to end the game.

“If we’d have had our other two guys tonight, we would have been more competitive,” Carr said.

He recalled the last time he had faced Portsmouth Christian. It was five years ago in his first year as junior varsity coach for Suffolk Christian, then known as First Baptist Christian School, and the Patriots also dealt his team a blowout loss.

Carr said he was still proud of his guys for never giving up.

He explained the constructive mindset SCA aims for after each game.

“We just try to see the good in it whether we win or lose,” he said. “There’s always something good to take from it.”

Younger and less experienced players on the Knights’ roster got more playing time and showed development.

Sophomore forward Barton Metzgar was an important presence on the boards, where Carr noted he is really aggressive.

The coach saw improvement in the play of junior forward Logan Park.

Freshman forward Matt Shafer also logged some important time against a Portsmouth Christian defense that left little room for error.

A major handicap for the Knights, according to Carr, is a lack of consistent practice and playing opportunities to prepare the team for the regular season schedule. He aims to establish a consistent schedule in this regard to help the school’s basketball program.

“That’s the only thing that’s going to turn it around,” he said.

Lack of practice was an issue coming into Friday’s game because of the winter weather that closed down SCA and all Suffolk schools for most of the week.

The Knights are back in action on Monday at Veritas Christian Academy with a 7 p.m. tip-off.