(Red Oak) Four players scored double-figures to lead Red Oak over Atlantic, 64-56, on Tuesday night at Red Oak.
Max DeVries led the way with 21 points, Brayden Sifford, 14, Hunter Gilleland, 13, and Cyrus Mensing, 11.
Colton Rasmussen led Atlantic with 22 points, Gavin McLaren with 12, and Hudson McLaren with 11. Rasmussen sank a perfect 13-13 free throws.
The Tigers buried four three-point baskets in the first quarter, broke out to a 10-3 advantage, and closed out the frame leading 18-11. Max DeVries found his range early, connecting on two of the four long-range bombs. Hunter Gilleland and Cyrus Mensing knocked through the other two.
The Trojans did not shy away from the looks beyond the arc. Hudson McLaren had his best shooting night of the season, with a trio of three-point baskets and his first double-figure game in his young career. The sophomore popped one in from deep in the third and guided two more through the rim in the fourth.
The Tigers led 35-26 at the half, led by DeVries, who canned four three-point baskets and two from inside the arc. The senior had 18 points in the first. The Trojans kept grinding, outscoring the Tigers 16-10 in the third quarter, trailing the home team by one point, 43-42 at the end of the third quarter.
‘In the final frame, Hudson McLaren fired in a three-point shot to knot the game at 45-45, and the Trojans steered their way to a 50-47 lead midway through the final quarter. The Tigers responded with a 6-0 run and regained the lead 53-50.
Red Oak made nine free throws down the stretch to seal the deal 64-56.
The Tigers extend their record to 8-9 and take off for Creston for a single boys game on February 2.
Atlantic, 5-11 play at Perry on Thursday, and hosts Denison-Schleswig on Friday.