A strong performance late Friday powered West Liberty-Salem to a 59-59 victory over Triad in an Ohio Heritage Conference contest.
The Tigers improve to 11-9 overall and 9-6 in the OHC. Triad falls to 5-15, 4-11.
The game was back-and-forth throughout much of the first three quarters until WL-S was able to pull away late to earn the victory.
WL-S and Triad were tied 16-16 at the end of the first quarter, and played to a 13-13 draw in the second as well, leaving the score an even 29-29 at halftime.
It was the Cardinals that were able to pull ahead at the end of the three quarters, using a 15-13 advantage out of the halftime locker room to go up 44-42 heading into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Tigers, however.
WL-S outscored the Cardinals 17-5 in the fourth quarter to close out the win.
Matthew Jones scored 18 points to lead WL-S. Brevin Louden and Taran Logwood each scored 11 points, and Carson Poppe added 10 points.
Tyler Perry led all scorers with 22 points for Triad.
WL-S won the JV game 52-39. The Tigers freshman won also, 52-8.
The Tigers are back in action Friday at home against Northeastern.
WEST LIBERTY-SALEM 59 TRIAD 49
WEST LIBERTY-SALEM (11-9, 9-6)
Jones 7 0-2 18; Louden 4 1-2 11; Logwood 5 1-2 11; Poppe 4 2-5 10; Hostetler 1 3-4 5; Reames 1 0-0 3; Powell 0 1-2 1. Totals: 22 9-17 59.
TRIAD (5-15, 4-11)
Perry 9 0-2 22; Bailey 3 2-4 9; Thompson 2 2-3 8; Caleb Thomas 3 0-0 8; Cameron Thomas 1 0-0 2. Totals: 18 4-9 49
Tigers. 16 13 13 17 — 59
Cardinals. 16 13 13 5 — 49
Three pointers: West Liberty-Salem 6 (Jones 4 Louden 2.) Triad 9 (Perry 4, Thompson 2, Caleb Thomas 2, Bailey.) Team fouls: West Liberty-Salem 14; Triad 15