By Andrew Millaway
Sports Correspondent

SPARTA -- Wins have been few and far between both Elkin varsity basketball teams this season.

Both teams went into Tuesday night's action with shots at breaking their losing streaks, but both fell short at Alleghany.

The Elkin boys fell 54-49, while the varsity girls lost 39-19.

The Buckin' Elk boys, who haven't won since a Jan. 6 decision against West Wilkes, took the floor in the main event Tuesday night with a lot to prove after solid efforts against the top two teams in the conference, Bishop McGuinness and Mount Airy, the previous two game nights.

Things looked promising for the Elks as they held their own early with the Trojans. But Alleghany hit a buzzer beating shot to take a 10-8 lead into the second period.

Things then went quickly downhill for the Elks, and the Trojans built a comfortable 27-13 by the half. 

The Elks scrambled to try and get back into the game but the struggles continued until late in the third quarter when Grayson Kimery and Jermaine Hayes hit shots to pull the Elks within 13 points after being down by as much as 18.

The charge, led by senior Russell Stewart and his protege Jermaine Hayes, continued to Elks. Hayes and Stewart hit back-to-back three-pointers for the Elks, pulling the visitors within seven.

The Elks would keep trying to get closer, but Alleghany kept denying them and held a lead of 45-36 late in the third quarter.

Elkin kept battling, and Jermaine Hayes swished his third and fourth three-pointers of the night to pull the Elks within a point, at 50-49 with less than a minute to play.

Elkin stole the inbounds pass but was whistled for a technical foul after trying to call a timeout which they didn't have.  That would seal the deal for Alleghany, which pulled away for the victory.

"You've got to start strong and finish strong. Heck of a job coming back." Elkin coach Clarence Edwards said after the game.

Hayes and Stewart both had 14 points, and Stewart added 10 rebounds for the double-double.

Elkin, which lost to Bishop McGuinness 54-38, now stands at 1-16 overall and 1-10 in conference. Alleghany upped its record to 4-16, 4-9 in the Northwest 1A.

The story of the three-ball was the same in the varsity girls game Tuesday -- but this time it came from the Trojans. Kennedy Gambill nailed five three-pointers to lead Alleghany to a 20-point victory.

The Lady Elks came out sluggish, trailing 14-1 after the first quarter, but JV call-up Samantha Dimmette wouldn't let the Trojans run completely away. Dimmette scored all eight of the Lady Elks points in the first half. Elkin trailed 22-8 at the break.

The Lady Elks managed to cut the lead to 12 in the second half, but the Lady Trojans picked up the pace and cruised to the victory.

"They scored their first 12 points off threes and never looked back," Elkin coach Ken Abrams said after the game. "Samantha played well tonight. I was pleased with her performance."

Both Elkin teams also lost the night before to Bishop Mcguiness. The girls fell 62-22.

Dalton Brewer would take charge for the Elks early in the boys match-up, scoring all eight points of the first quarter.

The Elks went into the second quarter trailing 14-8.  Bishop  picked things up from there and took a 32-12 halftime advantage. 

Damon Smith attempted to take charge for the Elks in the second half, but the Villians kept pulling away, eventually leading 43-19. The Elks wouldn't give up, as Chase Mounce led a fourth-quarter charge to pull the Elks back to within 16.

Bishop leads the conference in both the boys and girls standings with unbeaten records.

Elkin teams are back in action Friday night, hosting rival East Wilkes.