MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County basketball teams made the long drive to Warner Robins on Friday only to drop their Region 1-AAAAA openers to Houston County.

The Colquitt County girls got behind early and got in foul trouble and fell to the Lady Bears 60-46.

The Packers had a two-point lead with one second left when they were called for a foul on Houston player attempting a 3-pointer.

The Bears made all three free throws and escaped with a 56-55 victory.

The Packers are now 6-6. Houston County’s boys raise their record to 6-5.

“We played well in spurts,” said Packers coach Kirven Davis, who added, “That one hurt.”

The Packers again played without point guard Orion Ponder, who is still sidelined with a back injury suffered last week. Davis said Ponder was doubtful for tonight’s region game against Coffee at the Gladys Espy Gymnasium.

Eugene Woods led the Packers with 21 points. Channing Hudson added 19 and Duke Banks had 10.

Dannie Hunt had three and Andrew Wallace, who was in early foul trouble, had two.

The Lady Packers loss drops their record to 7-6 overall and 0-1 in the region.

Lady Packers leading scorer Taquella Coates scored just four points and had only three rebounds before fouling out. Point guard Nikki Hudson also fouled out.

“We’ve got to play up-tempo, but the fouls started racking up,” said Lady Packers coach Joe Parker.

The Lady Packers trailed 11-5 at the end of the first quarter and, despite a late run, were behind 30-19 at the half.

“We didn’t quit,” Parker said. “But we still played in spurts.

“We’ve got to get off the bus and get ready to play. We can’t spot teams these leads.”

The Lady Bears were led by post player Tonia Williams, who had 19 points.

Nicolle Thomas led the Lady Packers with 15 points, including nine on three 3-pointers. Tiffany Troupe had nine points and battled the taller Lady Bears front court and grabbed 13 rebounds.

Shay Lovett had six points, Hudson, Coates and Umeika Henry each had four and Ashley Patillo and Carly Moore each had two.

The Lady Bears are 7-4.

The Lady Packers will meet the Coffee girls at 6 tonight at the Espy Gymnasium, followed by the boys game.

Also tonight, Valdosta travels to Houston County.

Friday’s region games between Warner Robins and Lowndes were postponed.