ROCKSPRINGS, Ohio — Coach Jeff Caldwell is getting pretty good at this trick. It had been five seasons since the Southern boys basketball team had won a sectional title when Caldwell arrived in Racine. In the five years he has been at SHS they have won sectional titles in each.

The Tornadoes defeated Trimble Wednesday night at Larry R. Morrison Gymnasium on the campus of Meigs High School 59-31 to earn their third victory over the Tomcats this season and earn a trip to ‘The Convo’ for the fifth consecutive year.

Southern (18-3) began the contest with an 11-2 run tat lasted just over three minutes and forced Trimble (3-19) to take a timeout. SHS outscored Trimble 5-4 over the remainder of the period taking a 16-6 lead into the second stanza.

“We’re able to score when we get out in transition off of our defense,” said Coach Caldwell after the game. That was very evident in the second quarter, as the Tomcats scored just four points over the eight minute stretch and Southern had their best offense quarter of the night putting up 17 points. SHS was firmly in control headed into the break, leading 33-10.

The Tornadoes defensive pressure after halftime was too much for the THS ball handlers, who committed 11 turnovers in the third period alone. Southern struggled from the line in the third cashing in on just 2-of-7 attempts, but the Tornadoes were able to score 14 in the quarter and hold the Tomcats to seven pushing the SHS lead to 30 headed into the finale.

Trimble was able to force the Tornadoes into five turnovers in the fourth period while outscoring 14-12. Southern defeated THS 59-31 to improve to 18-3 on the year.

The Tornadoes’ scoring was led by Andrew Roesberry with 15 points on the evening, followed by Ethan Martin with 13, and Ryan Taylor with 10. Marcus Hill scored six, Tristen Wolfe, Chandler Drummer, and Casey Pickens each had four points, and Nathan Roberts finished with three points to round out the SHS scoring.

Cyrus Jones led THS with seven points, followed by four Tomcats with four points each.

This is the fifth straight sectional title for SHS but Coach Caldwell insists they aren’t done, “When you’ve got a senior group like we do I know they have expectations to do some more.” Southern returns to action Tuesday night at the Convocation Center on the campus of Ohio University, where they will meet a familiar face, Manchester who has ended the Tornadoes season each of the last two years. Tip off is scheduled for 6:15 and Coach Caldwell would like to see his team do better in one part of the game, “Hopefully we’ll find a little bit better offense at the Convo.”

Southern 59, Trimble 31

S 16-17-14-12 —59

T 6-4-7-14 — 31

SOUTHERN (18-3): Tristen Wolfe 1 2-3 4, Ethan Martin 5 1-2 13, Andrew Roseberry 5 3-5 15, Andrew Ginther 0 0-0 0, Ryan Taylor 4 0-0 10, Trenton Deem 0 0-0 0, Nathan Roberts 1 1-6 3, Adam Pape 0 0-0 0, Dustin Custer 0 0-0 0, Marcus Hill 2 2-4 6, Casey Pickens 2 0-0 4, Chandler Drummer 1 2-4 4. TOTALS: 21 11-24 59. Three-point goals: 6 (Martin 2, Roseberry 2, Taylor 2).Field goals: 21-59 (.356). Rebounds: 36. Turnovers: 16.

TRIMBLE (3-19): Jacob Hooper 2 0-0 4, Konner Standley 2 0-0 4, Cyrus Jones 2 3-4 7, Austin Downs 1 1-1 3, Jacob Kirk 1 0-2 2, Justin Jewell 0 0-0 0, Chris Spears 0 0-0 0, Joel Wascom 0 0-0 0, Wyatt Deak 2 0-0 4, Wyatt Bragg 1 0-0 3, Jacob Koons 0 0-0 0, Cody Bragg 1 2-2 4. TOTALS: 12 6-9 31. Three-point goals: 1 (W Bragg). Field goals: 12-53 (.226). Turnovers: 26.