SMITHFIELD - Putting together four full quarters continues to be something the Smithfield-Selma boys basketball team has trouble doing.

The malady struck again in the consolation game of the Johnston County Christmas Invitational as the Spartans fell to Chapel Hill, 69-53.

SSS held its own throughout the first half, overcoming deficits of five and six points, respectively, in the final minutes while forging a 33-33 stalemate at the break.

Thriving off the momentum of that late second quarter run, the Spartans, behind a bucker from Dalvin Stancil and 3-pointers from Stancil and Keagan Turner, built a 41-33 lead midway through the third quarter.

But untimely turnovers, poor shooting and a lack of free throw opportunities sent the Spartans spiraling to the defeat.

After building the eight-point cushion, the Spartans committed three consecutive turnovers, then missed 3-pointers on their following three possessions as the Tigers rallied for a 47-44 lead entering the final period.

The Spartans had one last run in them, as they responded to a pair of Denzel Robinson free throws with a trey by Stancil and a follow shot by Wallace Spragins, knotting the game 49-49 with 6:30 remaining.

Then Robinson, an all-tournament selection and the son of North Carolina assistant coach Steve Robinson, helped lead the Tigers' takeover from the line as Chapel Hill hit 11 of 15 free throws down the stretch.

Chapel Hill held a whopping advantage at the charity stripe, hitting 23-of-33 shots, while the Spartans went to the line only three times, making one shot.

Along with Robinson, the Tigers got contributions from Brad Dimac and Josh Morrison as they pulled away in the final three minutes with a 15-2 surge.

The Spartans turned the ball over eight times in that run, while hitting only 2-of-5 shots, both by Turner, who finished with a game-high 20 points. Stancil joined Turner in double-figures with 11 points while Dimac and Morrison both dropped in 18 for the Tigers.

Robinson added 13 points while James Manor chipped in 10 for Chapel Hill.