ALBANY, Ohio — It takes 32 minutes of solid basketball to win a game.

The Southern boys basketball team scored just three points in the third period of Wednesday night’s 59-47 loss to Alexander at “The Alley”.

The Tornadoes (9-12) took the early lead, as they out scored Alexander (5-16) 10-to-9 in the opening period. SHS expanded its lead in the second quarter with a 18-to-15 run that put the Tornadoes on top 28-24 at halftime.

The Spartans defense came out of the break with new intensity, as they held the Purple and Gold to just three third quarter points. AHS scored 15 points in the third and led 39-31 headed into the finale.

Alexander used the momentum from the third to seal the game in the fourth with a 20-to-16 run that capped off the 59-47 triumph.

Tristen Wolfe led the Purple and Gold with 15 points, followed by Taylor McNickle with 11 and Casey Pickens with nine. Dennis Teaford marked seven points, while Hunter Johnson and Jack Lemley each finished with two for SHS. Trenton Deem rounded out the Southern scoring with one point on the night.

Pickens led the glass attack for the Tornadoes with eight rebounds, while Wolfe and Deem each had a team-high two assists. Deem led the Southern defense with three steals in the game. As a unit the Tornadoes had 29 rebounds, seven assists, eight steals and 17 turnovers.

The Purple and Gold shot 15-of-25 (60 percent) from the free throw line and 16-of-47 (32.7 percent) from the field, including 0-10 from beyond the arc.

Seth Richardson led the Spartans with 28 points, including four three-pointers. Cory Chapman marked 16 points, Mason Chapman had six, while Chris Wingett, Jared Jeffers and Jordan Moseley each finished with three points. Jeffers had one three pointer in the game.

Braden Jones led the Spartans on the glass with 13 rebounds, while also recording the games lone two blocks. Three Spartans finished with two steals and two assists each in the victory. As a team Alexander had 40 rebounds, eight assists, nine steals, two blocks and 20 turnovers.

Alexander was 22-of-29 (75.9 percent) from the line and 16-of-45 (35.6 percent) from the field, including 5-of-15 (33.3 percent) from beyond the arc.

The Tornadoes have now lost three straight games, and they fall to 0-3 against Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division this season. Alexander snapped a three game skid with the victory, and the improve to 2-3 against the TVC Hocking this season.