The South Effingham Mustangs basketball team’s trip up the Savannah River turned out to be a difficult road, with a 73-44 loss Friday night to Burke County and a 51-30 defeat at the hands of Hephzibah on Saturday night.

The Bears broke open a close game in the second quarter Friday night and hit eight 3-point shots. Devonda Lewis had five 3s and finished with a game-high 24 points for Burke County.

Eight Mustangs scored in the loss, led by Jaron Mullins’ 12 points. Zach Anderson had nine points and Eddie Harris added eight.

Blake Bush had 22 points as Hephzibah snuffed out any hope of a Mustangs’ comeback by holding South Effingham to three points in the fourth quarter.

Harris led the Mustangs with nine points while Aaron Fisher scored six and Anderson added five.

The Lady Mustangs fell 79-26 to No. 1-ranked Hephzibah as five Lady Rebels scored in double figures, led by 15 points from Jasmine Judge.

Whitney Jones scored 13 points for the Lady Mustangs.

South Effingham hosts ECI Tuesday and hosts Liberty County on Friday night in a Region 3-AAA matchup.