It was a rugged beginning of the 2018-19 season for the South Whidbey High School girls basketball team as it dropped both games at the Tipoff Classic in Friday Harbor over the weekend.

The Falcons lost to Seattle Academy 63-26 Friday, Nov. 30, and to Friday Harbor 41-25 Saturday, Dec. 1.

South Whidbey coach Jeff Hanson said his club struggled with turnovers in the loss to Seattle Academy.

Against Friday Harbor, the Falcons “played better” and “handled the pressure better,” Hanson said.

“(We are a) young team making mistakes,” he added.

South Whidbey (0-2) plays it first home game when Sedro-Woolley (3-0) visits at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec., 5.

The Falcons hung with Seattle Academy for one quarter, trailing 7-4.

The Cardinals outscored South Whidbey 19-6 in the second period to go up 26-10 at the break and then extended their lead to 44-18 going into the final quarter.

Seattle Academy popped in 12 three-pointers in the game.

Rachel Harder led the Falcons with 8 points. Ella Wood and Emma Hodson each scored 6, and Farriss Jokinen, Lexi Starets-Foote and Arianna Briggs had 2 apiece.

Friday Harbor used a big second quarter to take control of Saturday’s game.

South Whidbey jumped to a 7-4 lead, then the Wolverines countered by outscoring the Falcons 15-6 in the second period to go up 19-13. Friday Harbor pushed its advantage to 28-18 after three quarters.

Wood topped the Falcons in scoring with 8 points. Jokinen had 7, Starets-Foote 4, Lynch 3, Hodson 2 and Briggs 1.