Wakefield coach Paul Dooling was hoping his team could turn things around in an early-season rematch at Green Hope Friday after losing its home opener to the Falcons by nine points Nov. 16.

Instead, Dooling and the Wolverines (1-3) walked away with another nine-point loss, this time 58-49 and with a bit more frustration.

“It was real frustrating,” Dooling said. “That’s what Green Hope does, they frustrate you. They played some good defense, smart offense. They did a great job and we were frustrated.”

Green Hope jumped out to an early lead, much because of hot shooting from forward Reuben Ford, who scored 14 of his game-high 22 points in the first half. Ford has wasted little time putting his football physique to use for the basketball team, said Green Hope coach Mickey Bissette.

“He was really, really good in the first half,” Bissette said. “He was getting open looks and knocking them down. You see a young man who’s got that football player size. He’s got good physical size but he’s got a soft, feathery touch. He got some great looks around the free-throw line and knocked them down.”

As Ford’s offensive showcasing in the first half continued, J.D. Pelham, Green Hope’s 6-foot-10 center, began knocking down long distance shots himself. Pelham hit a 3-pointer and helped give Green Hope a 29-17 edge at the half.

“They were definitely getting out on me in the second half,” said Pelham, who finished with 19 points. “But in the beginning I knocked down a couple [of long shots] and made them commit on it.”

Wakefield rallied in the third quarter, cutting the Green Hope lead to six points, before Pelham and the Falcons answered by converting off of several Wakefield turnovers, eventually holding on for the nine-point win.

“Every time we would climb back in, we’d make a stop or create a turnover, we would turn the ball over,” Dooling said. “But those are positive turnovers, to me. We’re pitching it ahead and trying to do something positive. Next time we’re going to catch it and get it done.”

Though the rematch resulted in the exact same outcome in the point spread, both coaches were pleased with improvements in their teams since their first meeting.

Dooling said he has been pleased with the rapid growth of his young team, which returns no starters and features three sophomores and a freshman who play significant minutes.

“We’re definitely a work in progress,” Dooling said. “And even though we lost to Green Hope again, we played better against them this time.”

Ford admitted Wakefield played with much more intensity and control than in the previous contest.

For Green Hope, Bissette said he was impressed that his team was able to win despite the game tempo differing greatly from the first meeting with Wakefield.