Quick starts in both halves helped Portland defeat Falmouth, 47-44, in a boys’ basketball contest Friday night at the Expo.

The Bulldogs (7-3) got 16 points from Wani Donato. They shot to a 14-5 lead after one quarter, as Spencer Cross scored six points

Falmouth (6-2), playing its first game in more than two weeks because of a COVID pause, fell behind by 10 early in the second quarter before closing the first half on a 7-0 run and pulling within 19-16 at the break on a tip-in by Brady Coyne.

Portland then opened the second half on a 12-0 run, which featured seven points from Donato, a three-point play from Cross and two free throws from Jeissey Khamis. After the Navigators scored nine straight, Donato’s layup at the horn made it 33-25 heading to the fourth.

Falmouth got as close as one, 45-44, on a Zach Morrill layup with 11 seconds to go. James Johnson made two free throws for the final margin.

Cross and Pitia Donato added 10 points apiece for the Bulldogs.

The Navigators were led by Coyne with 11 points. Judd Armstrong and Morrill each added nine.