By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

PEDRO — Sometimes how you start determines how you finish.

The Rock Hill Redmen fell behind in the first quarter and never recovered in a 62-48 loss to the Wellston Golden Rockets Wednesday.

“The first quarter was the difference,” said Rock Hill coach Bob Wilds. “We got behind early and then we played them pretty even the rest of the game.”

Wellston took a 20-11 first quarter lead as Nigel Courts and Austin Craig combined for 12 points to offset 3-pointers by Rock Hill’s Shane Russell and Trey Wilds.

Each team scored 17 points in the second quarter. Will McCollister scored eight points and Andy Knipp four more for the Redmen while Dakota Brown had 10 for Wellston and it was 37-28 at the half.

The Rockets built a 48-35 after three quarters and led by as many as 20 points early in the fourth quarter.

Devin Darby scored five of his seven points in the fourth quarter as the Redmen got within seven points, but Wellston was 9 of 17 from the line to keep the lead. Courts made 5 of 9.

“We did what we wanted. We fouled them and they missed their free throws, but we couldn’t convert. We didn’t rebound very well, either,” said coach Wilds.

McCollister had 15 points and four rebounds while Knipp finished with 13 points and five rebounds for the Redmen (3-4). Trey Wilds had six assists.

Wellston (2-3) was led by Courts with 21 and Brown with 18.

Wellston 20 17 11 14 = 62

Rock Hill 11 17 7 13 = 48

WELLSTON (2-3): Andrew Richards 3 0 0-1 6, Dakota Brown 4 3 1-2 18, Ted Compston 0 0 0-0 0, Nigel Courts 6 0 9-15 21, Justus Ousley 1 0 2-2 4, Austin Craig 0 1 3-4 6, Blake Warrington 2 1 0-0 7. Totals: 16 5 15-24 62. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Richards.

ROCK HILL (3-4): Jonathan Schwab 0 0 0-0 0, Drew Kidd 0 0 0-0 0, Will McCollister 7 0 1-2 15, Shane Russell 3 0 3-6 9, Devin Darby 3 0 1-1 7, Trey Wilds 0 1 1-2 4, Mitchell Patterson 0 0 0-0 0, Andy Knipp 6 0 1-8 13, Totals: 20-41 7-19 48. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Wilds. 3-point goals: 1-8. Rebounds: 7 offense, 10 defense = 17 (Knipp 5, McCollister 4). Assists: 12 (Wilds 6). Turnovers: 19. Steals: 2 (Wilds 1, Patterson 1).