A disastrous third quarter proved to be the undoing of the Altus High Bulldogs who suffered their first loss of the season to the Weatherford Eagles, 48-44 here on Tuesday night.

It started out well for Coach Rick Bull and the Bulldogs who scored the first eight points of the game. But then Weatherford went on a 16-5 run to take a 16-13 lead at the end of the first period.

Altus rallied in the second period and when Milik Knight hit a shot with 32 seconds remaining in the second period, Altus held a 32-27 lead, a margin they carried into the halftime intermission.

However a third quarter came and it could not have gone much worse for the Bulldogs. Altus struggled offensively during that eight minute span and scored only two points.

That allowed Weatherford to carry 41-34 lead into the final eight minutes.

The Eagles at one time had a nine point lead in that final frame before late Bulldog come back made it interesting.

Altus kept chipping away at the deficit and when Landon Ybarra hit a 3-point basket, the Bulldogs trailed only 45-44 with 34 seconds remaining.

But that would be the last time the Bulldogs would score. A pair of free throws by Brad Boyd with 11 seconds left gave the Eagles a 47-44 lead.

A 3-point shot by Kasen Warren with two seconds left rimmed off and Weatherford’s Jason Nichols added another free throw one second later.

Warren scored 16 points to lead the Bulldogs. Knight who dominated the offensive boards with several put back buckets had 13 points.

Altus, 2-1 on the season, will host the Duncan Demons at 8 p.m. on Friday night.