TUPPERS PLAINS - The only way to reap a reward is to take a chance.

Trimble coach Greg Koons took a big chance Friday against Eastern in a showdown for the early Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division lead, and the gamble paid off to the tune of an 82-69 road victory.

The Tomcats (7-3, 4-0) took a one-game lead in the Hocking standings by double-teaming Nathan Cozart and his 31.1 points-per-game average all night long, leaving four Eagles to play offense against his trio of defenders.

The end result was that the Eagles (8-2, 3-1) shot just 28-of-66 from the field for 42 percent, including a dismal 3-of-16 effort from behind the arc for 19 percent.

That, along with a 49 percent shooting performance and a 41-29 rebounding edge, allowed THS to end the Green and White's winning streak at seven.

Trimble never trailed in the contest and shot an astounding 11-of-23 (48 percent) from three-point territory, including 8-of-15 in the first half. The guests also had seven players reach the scoring column and four finished with double digits.

Anthony Dixon hit six trifectas and led THS with 24 points, Chaz Mohler followed with 18 points and B. Barrett added 12 in triumph. Matt Christman had a double-double with 16 points and a game-high 22 rebounds. Mark Christman contributed another eight points and 10 caroms to the win.

Cozart finished with a game-high 26 points, but 22 of those came in the middle quarters for EHS. Michael Owen picked up some of the scoring slack with 15 and Kyle Rawson followed with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Marcus Guess had six markers, Nathan Carroll chipped in five and Alex McGrath added four in the setback. Bryce Honaker rounded out the scoring with three points.

Trimble jumped out to a 21-17 first quarter lead behind an 8-of-16 shooting performance from the field. Trimble went 5-for-9 from 3-point territory over that span and led by as much as six in the opening eight minutes.

The second quarter was the only frame in which the Tomcats didn't shoot 50 percent, finishing 8-for-19 from the field. Still, a 6-for-15 Eastern shooting effort allowed the guests a 19-18 second quarter run for a 40-35 intermission advantage.

Trimble was 16-for-35 from the floor for 46 percent at the break, while the hosts managed just 13-of-34 in shot attempts for 38 percent. The guests also held a 22-17 rebounding edge at halftime.

Eastern cut the lead to 46-43 with 5:06 left in the third, but the Tomcats finished 7-of-13 from the floor in each of the final two quarters to wrap up the victory. Trimble also nailed 11-of-14 free throws, all of which came in the second half.

EHS, which ended the night 10-of-12 at the foul line, did not attempt a free throw in the fourth quarter.

Trimble had 12 turnovers in the win, four of which came on charges, while Eastern had only seven in the loss.

Eastern won the junior varsity tilt by a 40-30 score. Carroll led the Eagles with 22 points, while Dunlap paced Trimble with eight in the setback.

Eastern played North Adams at the Ohio University Convocation Center Saturday and will return to action Tuesday when it travels to Stewart to take on Federal Hocking. Tip-off of the TVC Hocking affair is slated for 8 p.m.