ROCKSPRINGS — The Meigs boys basketball team won their second consecutive decision Friday night — and exacted a little revenge in the process — during a 75-64 victory over visiting Athens during a TVC Ohio matchup at Larry R. Morrison Gymnasium.

The host Marauders (5-9, 4-4 TVC Ohio) stormed out a 9-0 lead just two minutes into the contest and were ahead 17-9 after eight minutes of play, but the Bulldogs (6-9, 2-6) countered with a 21-16 charge in the second to cut their halftime deficit to 33-30.

The Maroon and Gold started the second half with a small 16-15 run to lead 49-45 entering the fourth, where the hosts finished things off with a 26-19 surge to secure the 11-point triumph. MHS also avenged an earlier 80-62 setback to Athens back on December 12 in The Plains.

The Marauders were 27-of-61 from the field overall for 44 percent, including a respectable 5-of-13 effort from three-point territory for 39 percent. The hosts were also an impressive 16-of-19 at the free throw line for 84 percent.

Clay Bolin — in his second game back from injury — came off the bench and delivered a game-high 24 points to pace Meigs. Gabe Hill was next with 17 markers, followed by Jeremy Smith with 13 and Jesse Smith with nine.

The Green and Gold were led by the duo of Cori Butcher and Colin Pfaff with 19 points apiece, while Matt Witten and Frank Valentour chipped in 14 and 10, respectively. AHS was 17-of-30 at the charity stripe for 57 percent.

Athens did salvage a split with a 58-40 victory in the junior varsity contest. Dean Maffin led the JV Bulldogs with a game-high 19 points, while Seth Wells paced Meigs with 18 markers.

Meigs played River Valley on Saturday and will return to the hardwood on Tuesday when it travels to Wellston. The JV game will tip-off at 6 p.m.

Waterford sweeps Eagles

TUPPERS PLAINS — It’s not how you start something, but rather how you finish it.

The Eastern boys basketball team let a 13-point first quarter lead slip away Friday night, and visiting Waterford made the most of it during a 52-48 decision in TVC Hocking play in Meigs County.

The Eagles (7-7, 3-4 TVC Hocking) dropped their second straight decision, despite jumping out to a 17-4 advantage after eight minutes of play. The Wildcats (10-5) countered with a 22-11 run in the second frame, turning the hosts’ large lead into a narrow 28-26 cushion at the break.

WHS captured the lead for good at 36-35 with 4:30 left in the third period as the guests closed the quarter on an 18-12 run for a 44-40 edge. Eastern managed to cut its deficit to one point on two different occasions — the last of which came with 2:15 left in regulation — but the hosts never managed to get over the hump.

The Eagles were led by Jake Lynch with 16 points, followed by Mike Johnson with 11 and Kelly Winebrenner with seven markers. The hosts were outrebounded by 41-26 margin overall, including a 15-10 discrepancy on the offensive glass.

Cody Strahler paced the Wildcats with a game-high 20 points, followed by a double-double effort of 17 points and 18 rebounds from D.J. Cunningham.

Waterford also claimed an evening sweep with a 38-29 victory in the junior varsity game. Trevor Ball led the JV ‘Cats with a game-high eight points, while Matt Whitlock led Eastern with seven markers.

Eastern returns to action Tuesday when it hosts River Valley in a non-conference matchup. The JV game will tip-off at 6 p.m.

Southern falls to

Fed Hock in overtime

STEWART — The Southern Tornadoes (11-4, 5-2) whirled into Federal Hocking with a full head of steam, but soon had their sails deflated 69-67 in overtime by the sharply honed lance of the host Lancers.

The Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division loss made Southern’s task of sharing a part of the division title much tougher; however, the Tornadoes of Coach Jeff Caldwell still have a shot because they play both league contenders in Trimble and Waterford. Another hurdle lies in rival Eastern.

Southern was led by Sean Coppick with 19 points, John Brauer with 15 points, Bryan Harris 13, Michael Manuel eleven, Brad Brown with five, and Weston Roberts four. With four men in double figures, Southern had the balance, but lacked the punch. The hosts placed five men in double digits. Federal Hocking was led by Brandon Torrence with 20 points, Tyler Thompson 16, Dwayne Clark ten, Justin Stanley ten, Grant Smith eleven, and Ryan Rex with two.

Southern dug an early hole with play that was not typical of their early season success. Southern made a host of turnovers and watched as Federal Hocking scorched the nets with a 50 percent-plus shooting effort in the first half. This came from a team that shot just 17 percent for the night in Racine, puzzling even the most astute hardwood scholars.

Brandon Torrence and Tyler Thompson blitzed the Tornadoes with five three pointers in the first frame alone (Thompson 9, Torrence 8) as the host galloped in full armour to a 23-13 lead. Overall Trounce had 5 of the trifectas and Thompson notched 4.

The two clubs battled evenly in the second canto with Federal holding a 38-28 edged at the half. Early in the third period, Southern fell behind by as much as 18 then began a rally that nearly pulled off the win. At the end of three rounds, Federal led 53-42.

Southern outscored the hosts 17-6 in the final round to tie the game at 59-59 at the end of regularion. John Brauer, who had a great overall night ended the game with 15 points, but his most crucial was a free throw, the second of a two-shot foul that tied the score. Sean Coppick also had a great overall game as Southern’s post tandem carried a bulk of the Southern offense.

Southern hit 27-64 overall, hitting 17-40 twos, 10-24 threes, and 8-12 at the line. Southern had 28 rebounds (Harris 9, Coppick 8), 16 assists (Harris 5), one charge, 20 turnovers, and 16 fouls. Federal Hocking had 22 rebounds, 21 assists (Smith 10), 13 steals (Stanley 4), 1 charge, 11 turnovers, and 17 fouls.

Federal Hocking won the reserve game by two points; however, no details of that game were reported.

Southern hosts Trimble next Friday, February 13. The make-up game with Waterford is February 24, while the Symmes Valley make-up date is pending.