Missed shots and missed free throws are not usually a recipe for success, as the Whitman-Hanson girls basketball team found out the hard way in Rockland.

The Panthers struggled from the field and shot just 40 percent from the free-throw line to drop their final game of 2011 58-44 to the Bulldogs on Dec. 27.

It was a tough game at both ends of the court for the Panthers, who were also out-rebounded by the Bulldogs as they fell to 3-2 on the season.

“I’m not happy with our performance,” head coach Jim Daley said. “We didn’t do a very good job compared to some of the other games we’ve had. We shot a lot and missed a lot.”

However, it would be the last lead of the game for the Panthers as the Bulldogs regained the advantage and stretched their lead to seven, 23-16, at halftime.

Rockland pulled away in the third quarter, running their lead to as much as 16 before ending the frame on top of the Panthers 43-27. Whitman-Hanson attempted a comeback in the fourth quarter when they cut the lead to eight while forcing turnovers on six of Rockland’s first seven possessions, but their shooting again went cold down the stretch, allowing the Bulldogs to hold on for the win.

“We worked hard in the second half and worked hard at times in the first half,” Daley said. “I just thought we could do better.”

Senior Brittney Porter led the Panthers with 13 points while grabbing seven rebounds. Hatfield and freshman center Erin Clifford each added eight points.

The loss to the Bulldogs came on the heels of a big win for the Panthers over the Bridgewater-Raynham Trojans, 47-23, at the high school on Dec. 23.

Porter again led the way for the Panthers with 11 points and six rebounds while senior guard Cassie Chernicki hit three three-pointers to finish with nine points.

“Everything we wanted to go well did go well on Friday,” Daley said.

The win was the first game of a varsity double-header at the high school, and Daley was honored during halftime of the boys game with a presentation commemorating his 500th win as head coach of the Panthers. Daley was presented with the game ball from the Hingham win, as well as a gift from the team, while Whitman-Hanson Athletic Director Bob Rodgers highlighted Daley’s accomplishments and showed a commemorative video.

“He’s won basketball games in five different decades,” Rodgers said during the presentation. “Girls basketball was not on the radar screen when Jim Daley took over … it’s been an incredible ride.”

“I was very appreciative of everything Bob did,” Daley said. “He was very gracious and very thoughtful, and the team was very gracious and very thoughtful. I was very appreciative of all their thoughts. That was all lovely.”

The Panthers got a break from games until Jan. 6 when they travel to Middleboro to face the Sachems.

“Hopefully, we can fix these things and get our defense in order,” Daley said.