ROCKSPRINGS, Ohio — The Meigs boys basketball team secured a share of second place in the final league standings on Friday night during a 59-50 victory over Nelsonville-York in a Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division matchup at Larry R. Morrison Gymnasium.

The Marauders (10-10, 6-4 TVC Ohio) honored seniors Ryan Payne, Cameron Bolin, Colton Stewart, Connor Swartz and Seth Wells before the contest, then preceeded to use that emotion to establish a double-digit advantage at the half.

The visiting Buckeyes (5-15, 2-8) battled back to within two possessions early in the fourth, but the hosts managed to do just enough down the stretch to wrap up the nine-point victory on senior night.

Meigs claimed a season sweep of the Buckeyes after posting a 65-60 win at NYHS back on January 14. MHS also finishes tied with Alexander for second place, two games back of TVC Ohio champion Vinton County.

The Maroon and Gold jumped out to a small 13-10 advantage after eight minutes of play, then made their biggest charge of the night in the second canto after a 14-7 run gave the hosts a 27-17 edge headed into the intermission.

The Buckeyes countered with a 15-12 spurt out of the second half gates, trimming their deficit down to 39-32 headed into the fourth.

MHS struggled at the free throw line in the finale — making just 6-of-13 attempts — but the hosts ultimately held on to wrap up a .500 effort in regular season play.

Meigs connected on 21-of-54 field goal attempts for 39 percent, including a 3-of-13 effort from three-point territory for 23 percent. MHS also had team totals of 43 rebounds, 13 turnovers, eight assists, seven steals and three blocks in the triumph.

Jesse Smith led the victors with a double-double effort of 21 points and 19 rebounds, both of which were game-highs. Bolin was next with 18 markers, followed by Stewart with eight points and Wells with six points.

Payne contributed three points to the winning cause, while Dillon Boyer and Connor Swartz rounded things out with respective totals of two points and one point. MHS was 14-of-23 at the free throw line for 54 percent. Bolin paced the Marauders with three steals and three assists.

Daniel Kline paced NYHS with 14 points, followed by Nathan Dean with nine markers. Casey Cox and Kyle Moore both added eight points in the setback. The Buckeyes were 7-of-15 at the charity stripe for 47 percent.

The Marauders claimed an evening sweep with a 41-33 victory in the junior varsity contest. Cody Stewart led the victors with 12 points.

Meigs now turns its attention to the Division III postseason, which begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26, at Athens High School, as the Marauders will face the winner of the NYHS-Federal Hocking contest.