The Bulldog defense kept King’s Fork High School’s boys’ basketball team in the game on Friday night against visiting Western Branch High School. Unfortunately, the Bulldog offense was not opportunistic.

Down by two with about a minute left, King’s Fork came within 45-44 after junior Akil Freeman made one of two free throws.

The Bulldog defense pressed the Bruins heavily, twice forcing them to take timeouts. On their third attempt, they stepped out of bounds with about 17 seconds remaining.

King’s Fork junior Justin Chicot put up a left elbow jumper, but could not convert. The Bruins’ Nigel Ribeiro hit a free throw to make it 46-44, and the Bulldogs would have one last chance with 3.9 seconds to go.

Junior Dale Roscoe missed a heavily contested three-pointer as time expired.

“You give up 46 points, most of the time you win the ballgame,” KF head coach Josh Worrell said. “Just offensively, we had numerous looks and just didn’t take advantage of opportunities.”

He said the Bulldogs missed 15 baskets from two feet away and missed 10 free throws for the game.

On defense, however, they limited the area’s leading scorer, Ribeiro, to 12 points, nearly 13 below his average.

Freeman led the Bulldogs with 14 points on the night, going 8-for-10 from the foul line.

King’s Fork played without sophomore Deshaun Wethington, who re-aggravated a football-related groin injury during a recent basketball game against Norview High School.

“He’s in that rehab mode again, trying to give him a week and a half off,” Worrell said. “Hopefully that rehab will make him stronger, and he’ll be ready to go when he’s healthy.”

The Bulldogs (8-5, 1-1) begin steady conference play with a home game on Tuesday.

“Hopefully we can come out and be ready to go against a very talented and athletic Phoebus (High School) team,” Worrell said.