PORTSMOUTH – King’s Fork started their boys basketball season out with a victory for the first time in school history Wednesday night as the Bulldogs took the lead for good near the end of the third quarter and went on to a 74-59 victory at Churchland.

In a scrappy, very hectic early season game, both teams forced a lot of loose balls and hustled all over the floor for the whole game.

Jamar Wertz knocked down a pair of jumpers, giving KF a 5-0 lead out of the gate.

Turnovers plagued the Bulldogs for the rest of the first period however.

By the end of the period, KF had seven turnovers and Churchland had pulled ahead, 13-12.

The Truckers got a bucket to open the second period, but freshman Jaquon Parker got going after a quiet first period.

Parker broke the Churchland press and scored a lay-up, then Parker picked off a Trucker pass at the other end, near the top of the key, and Parker took it all the way for a one-handed dunk.

Parker was fouled from behind on the dunk, and a flagrant foul was called.

Parker missed both free throws and KF couldn’t score on their possession however, leaving KF in front, 16-15.

Churchland went back in front for the rest of the second period and they led, 33-30, at the half.

The main positive for the Bulldogs in the half was they forced 14 Churchland fouls.

Even though KF shot just 50 percent (11-for-22) from the line, that kept them in the game and the fouls would pay off later.

Churchland continued to lead, 42-37, about four minutes into the third period, when the Bulldogs began solving and attacking Churchland’s full court press.

Loren Farris scored a lay-up on a feed by Sha’ka Miller, then after a defensive stop, Farris went 2-for-2 at the line, making it 42-41 with 2:40 in the third.

After a Churchland basket, Farris caught a long pass from Wertz to break the Churchland press, Farris then found Ra-kesh Harris at the top of the key and Harris nailed a three to tie the score.

After another Churchland two-pointer, KF found the openings in the Trucker press again, and this time Parker took it to the hoop for a lay-up and a foul.

Parker made the free throw, making it 47-46 KF with 1:37 left.

The Bulldogs carried a four-point lead to the last period and the last eight minutes became a session for the Bulldogs to practice their foul shooting.

KF took a double-digit lead when Parker knocked down a pair at the line to make it a 61-50 lead with 4:14 left.

Three Churchland players fouled out and three more Truckers finished with four fouls.

KF was better at the line in the second half, shooting 73.1 percent (19-for-26).

By comparison, Churchland was 10-for-24 from the line for the night, including 4-for-16 in the second half.

Parker and Wertz had 20 points apiece to lead the Bulldogs.

Farris added nine points, six rebounds and three blocks and Miller added eight points and three assists.

Jay Copeland was the top rebounder for Fork, with eight boards.