King’s Fork High School’s boys’ basketball team notched another conference win on Wednesday after falling to a potential regional playoff foe the night before.

The Bulldogs won 49-45 on the road Wednesday against Conference 17 opponent Churchland High School.

“We played a good third quarter,” King’s Fork coach Josh Worrell said, noting that was when his team got a decent lead.

However, it did not take good enough care of the basketball down the stretch, which gave the Truckers an opportunity for a late push.

“Fortunately, we were able to withstand it and pull away with a win,” Worrell said.

Junior center Raemaad Wright led the Bulldogs with 13 points, and senior guard Drequan Wilson contributed 12.

Worrell said he thought King’s Fork did a decent job of defending Churchland’s shooters, but “we just came out lethargic and with no energy in the first half,” which meant the Bulldogs had to play from behind early, and “we’re not a team that can score in bunches.”

Consequently, getting back into the game was an extended work in progress, but King’s Fork came around. Trailing 11-6 after the first quarter, it outscored the Truckers 18-12 in the second to lead 24-23 at halftime, and it won the third quarter 15-10 to lead 39-33 entering the fourth.

On Tuesday, Churchland narrowly fell to visiting Deep Creek High School, 52-49, while the Bulldogs lost 59-48 to visiting Heritage High School.

Worrell used the outcome of the Hurricanes game as an illustration to his players of the importance of playing disciplined basketball consistently.

Heritage turned possessions at the end of the first, second and third quarters into nine points, in part, because King’s Fork’s defense left something to be desired.

“As I told (my players), if we stay disciplined three more possessions, defensively, we have a very good chance of winning this basketball game,” Worrell said.

The Bulldogs chances at a win would have also been greater with better play at the hoop, but Worrell said they missed a lot of baskets at the rim on the night.

And though King’s Fork’s goal was to limit Hurricanes senior point guard Jermaine Marrow, he ended up with a game-high 31 points.

“As I told him when I shook his hand, I said he does a great job of getting open before he gets the basketball, which is something, as I told my guys, we need to get better at,” Worrell said.

Junior shooting forward Darius Huff was Heritage’s other scorer in double figures, with 14.

If the Bulldogs reach regional play, Worrell expects Heritage to be one of the teams King’s Fork could play in the first round.

“I’m not stupid when I make schedules,” he said. “I want to see some of the best people on the other side that we’re going to have an opportunity to play so it won’t be the first time when we play them (in the playoffs).”

For the Bulldogs, Wright produced 11 points and seven rebounds on Tuesday, sophomore guard James Hatton had 10 points and senior center Chris Roscoe registered 10 points and 10 boards in his first game back with the team this year.

“Chris coming in is a big help,” Worrell said. “A couple times early on, I think he was forcing a little bit, but then as the game got along, he got better. He’s going to just continue getting better and better each game. We’ve just got to understand we don’t have but so many games for him to get better before, really, it’s win or lose and go home.”

King’s Fork (11-9, 6-2) hosts Lake Taylor High School on Friday, which will be Senior Night.