RACINE, Ohio — Hot shooting leads Belpre over the Tornadoes for the second time this year.

The Southern boys basketball team fell to Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division foe Belpre, who shot nearly 50 percent from the field, Saturday night in Charles W. Hayman Gymnasium.

A neck and neck first quarter left the Tornadoes (8-8, 6-6 TVC Hocking) with a slim 15-14 lead. Belpre (8-7, 8-3) had an answer however, out scoring Southern 15-to-9 in the second period to take the five point advantage.

After halftime BHS went on a 15-to-12 run that expanded the lead to 44-36 with just eight minutes remaining. The Purple and Gold put their best offensive effort up in the fourth period, as they rallied for 20 points. Belpre closed the game like the veteran team it is, shooting 9-of-11 (81.8 percent) from the line and 7-of-11 (63.6 percent) from the field on its way to 23 points and the 67-56 victory.

Tristen Wolfe led the charge for the Tornadoes with 24 points, followed by Taylor McNickle and Dennis Teaford with nine apiece. Zac Beegle chipped in with eight points, Casey Pickens added four, while Jack Lemley rounded out the SHS scoring with two points.

Pickens led Southern with seven rebounds, followed by Wolfe and McNickle with five each. Wolfe finished with a team-high five assists, while Adam Pape led the defense with three steals. Wolfe and Beegle each had a block for the hosts.

As a team Southern finished with 24 rebounds, 10 assists, five steals, and 16 turnovers. The Purple and Gold shot 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) from the charity stripe and 24-of-55 (43.6 percent) from the field, including just 1-of-7 (14.3 percent) from three-point range.

Dakota Hoffman with 23 points and Brian Leasure with 13 points led BHS in the triumph. Nick Therriault had 11 points, Bryce Pittenger had eight, while Austin Forshey marked five. Brennen Ferrell and Joey Byers each added three points, and Sam Petty rounded out the victors scoring with one.

Pittenger finished with a game-high 10 rebounds, while Leasure had six. Hoffman had a team-high five assists. Pittenger, Leasure and Therriault each block two shots, while Pittenger game-high four steals.

As a unit Belpre had 26 rebounds, 12 assists, eight steals, six blocks and 11 turnovers. The Golden Eagles shot 14-of-20 (70 percent) from the line and 25-of-51 (49 percent) from the field, including 3-of-13 (23.1 percent) from three. Forshey, Hoffman and Therriault accounted for the trio of Belpre triples.

Southern also lost to the Golden Eagles on December 21st in Washington County by a count of 60-50.