RACINE, Ohio — A 13-3 third quarter surge ultimately provided enough breathing room for the Southern boys basketball team Saturday night during a hard-fought 49-46 victory over visiting Wahama in a Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division matchup at Charles W. Hayman Gymnasium.

Both the Tornadoes (4-4, 3-3 TVC Hocking) and White Falcons (2-5, 1-3) battled through numerous ties and lead changes in the opening half, as the contest was knotted up at 12 after eight minutes of play. SHS followed with a small 14-13 second quarter run to claim a slim 26-25 edge at the intermission.

The hosts, however, turned up the defensive pressure out of halftime and used a favorable 10-point swing to establish a sizable 39-28 lead headed into the finale. WHS made a heroic comeback effort in the fourth quarter, but even an 18-10 surge ultimately came up short at the end of regulation — allowing Southern to claim a one-possession triumph.

The Tornadoes outrebounded the guests by a 50-37 overall margin, including an 18-10 edge on the offensive glass. Neither team shot 30 percent from the field and both squads committed 17 turnovers in the contest.

Southern connected on 16-of-60 field goal attempts for 27 percent, including a 4-of-14 effort from three-point range for 29 percent. The hosts were also 13-of-20 at the free throw line for 65 percent.

Tristen Wolfe led SHS with a game-high 17 points, followed by Adam Pape with 11 points and Chandler Drummer with six markers. Trenton Deem, Zac Beegle and Casey Pickens each contributed four points to the winning cause, while Taylor McNickle and Dennis Teaford respectively rounded out the scoring with two points and one point.

Pickens led the Tornadoes with 12 rebounds, while Drummer hauled in 10 caroms. Wolfe added team-bests of four assists and two steals.

The White Falcons made 17-of-59 floor shots for 29 percent, including a 4-of-21 effort from three-point territory for 19 percent. WHS was also 8-of-13 at the charity stripe for 62 percent.

Wyatt Zuspan paced the guests with 12 points, followed by Austin Jordan with 10 points and Trenton Gibbs with nine markers. Derek Hysell chipped in five points, while Hunter Bradley and Jacob Ortiz both added four markers apiece. Dakota Sisk rounded out the Wahama scoring with two markers.

Gibbs hauled in team-high 12 boards, followed by Bradley with 10 rebounds. Bradley and Jordan both led the White Falcons with three assists each, while Gibbs had a game-high five steals in the setback.