The King’s Fork High School boys’ basketball team did not put together the complete game on Tuesday that its coach is looking for, but the Bulldogs used admirable defense in the second and third quarters to achieve a 56-38 home win over Hickory High School.

Bulldogs coach Josh Worrell said his team produced “two good quarters again and two average quarters.”

The good came sandwiched between the average as King’s Fork held the Hawks to seven points in the second quarter and five points in the third.

Worrell said this defense came about because his players were focused, “paying attention to the smaller details” and communicating better.

He challenged them to limit Hickory to less than five points in the fourth quarter but said they did not maintain the focus necessary to do it.

There were offensive shortcomings, as well. Worrell is working to have his players to play selflessly all the time.

“They’re playing unselfish sometimes,” he said. “Sometimes they’re letting the ball surprise them, and that’s a big problem I have.”

There were at least three or four instances on Tuesday in which an easy basket became a turnover because the player was not expecting to get a pass, he said.

“Overall, they’re doing a good job of making the extra pass, finding the open guy, and not caring who it is,” Worrell said.

Junior forward Keith Stagg led the Bulldogs with 16 points and added eight rebounds, five assists and five steals.

“(Drequan) Wilson did a good job defensively,” Worrell said, and the junior guard also added 10 points.

Junior center Chris Roscoe contributed eight points, 10 boards and four steals.

King’s Fork (8-4, 2-0) visits Western Branch High School tonight.