The Prince Edward County High School varsity boys basketball team went 2-2 during a busy 4-game stretch last week, taking its overall record through the first two weeks of the season to 4-2.

The Eagles took on a Virginia High School League Group 5A team on Saturday in the form of Halifax County High School.

Prince Edward Head Boys Basketball Coach James Scott said his team scrimmages a lot of 5A teams during the summer, helping prepare the Eagles for a high level of play, but the visiting Comets got the best of the Eagles Saturday, winning 52-33.

Halifax took a 15-9 lead after the first quarter, held a 22-17 advantage at halftime and led 36-23 after three quarters.

The Eagles had no players reach double figures in scoring but were led by senior Zarius Jones and sophomore Mark Patterson, who scored eight points apiece, while senior Quantavis Nash had seven and senior Kevon Braxton added six.

Prince Edward made 10 2-point field goals for the game as well as two 3-pointers, both of which came from the hand of Jones.

From the foul line, the Eagles shot 63.6 percent, going 7-for-11.

The loss to Halifax came on the heels of a 55-40 home victory over Goochland HighSchool on Friday evening.

“Goochland played us hard,” Scott said. “They set the tempo of the game, but we got back, we boxed out well.”

He said his players were really rushing their shots and not shooting well in the first half, so he had a message for them at halftime.

“I told them, ‘No more threes,’” he said, adding that they took this instruction well. “We took better shots.”

Jones led the Eagles with 19 points, while Nash added 12 and Braxton had seven.

Two days prior, Prince Edward suffered its first loss of the season, a 54-38 defeat to host Altavista High School.

In that contest, Jones contributed 14 points, Nash provided 13 and Braxton added eight.

Prince Edward opened the week Dec. 6 at home, topping Bluestone High School 65-55.

It was Patterson leading the way against the Barons with 17 points, with Jones contributing 15 and Braxton adding 11.

Scott expressed appreciation for having such a busy week.

“It makes you tough,” he said. “The kids enjoy it because practice is probably rougher than a game.”

Scott’s rigorous preparation of the Eagles has made them a consistent power in the area.

They opened the 2016-17 season Nov. 29 with a 55-49 home win against Nottoway High School. It was followed by a 64-52 road victory over Central Lunenburg High School on Dec. 2.

After visiting Amelia County High School on Tuesday, Prince Edward is set to visit Cumberland High School on Thursday, with tipoff set for 7 p.m.