WATERFORD, Ohio — Good teams find a way to win on nights when they don’t play their best. The Southern boys basketball team most certainly did not play their best Thursday night as they committed 20 turnovers and shot just 36 percent from the field, but they edged the Wildcats 44-41 in Washington County.

The Tornadoes (17-3, 13-3 TVC Hocking) established an inside and an outside presence in the first period getting six points from inside the arc, and getting nine points from beyond the arc. The Wildcats (10-10, 9-7) managed just seven points in the first period and trailed SHS by eight headed to the second.

The Wildcats’ defense flipped the script on Southern in the second only allowing it to score seven points in the quarter. Waterford scored 11 in the second and cut the Tornadoes’ lead to four points at halftime, 22-18.

Southern came out of the break cold, only hitting two field goals in the third period but their free throw shooting helped them to nine points in the quarter. WHS marked its best offensive quarter in the third as they scored 13 points to tie the game up at 31 headed into the finale.

The Tornadoes went on a 13-10 run over the final eight minutes to get the road victory 44-41. This is the second win over the Wildcats for SHS this season, the first coming in blowout fashion 70-46 in Racine back on Dec. 16th.

SHS was led offensively by Ethan Martin with 13 points, followed by Andrew Roseberry with nine points and a team-high eight rebounds. Marcus Hill and Chandler Drummer each scored seven points, while Ryan Taylor finished with four. Nathan Roberts and Tristen Wolfe rounded out the Tornadoes scoring with two points apiece.

The Wildcats were led by Braden Burer with 12 points followed by Tate Lang with 10.

The Tornadoes are getting hot when it counts as they head into tournaments having not lost a game in February. Southern returns to action Wednesday at 6:15 at Meigs High School for a sectional championship game against Trimble. SHS has had little trouble with the Tomcats this season defeating them on two occasions, the first on Jan. 10th at Trimble 69-51, and the second in Racine 75-35 on February 7th.

Southern 44, Waterford 41

S 15-7-9-13 — 44

W 7-11-13-10 — 41

SOUTHERN (17-3, 13-3 TVC Hocking): Tristen Wolfe 0 2-2 2, Ethan Martin 5 0-2 13, Andrew Roseberry 4 1-2 9, Ryan Taylor 1 1-2 4, Nathan Roberts 1 0-0 2, Adam Pape 0 0-0 0, Marcus Hill 2 3-5 7, Chandler Drummer 3 1-2 7. TOTALS: 16 10-15 44. Three-point goals: 3 (Martin 2, Taylor). Field goals: 16-45 (.356). Turnovers: 20.

WATERFORD (10-10, 9-7 TVC Hocking): Brian Moore 1 2-2 4, Austin Hilverding 2 1-3 7, Braden Burer 6 0-0 12, Austin Shriver 1 5-6 7, Matt West 0 0-0 0, Tyler Pyatt 0 1-2 1, Tate Lang 4 2-4 10. TOTALS: 14 11-17 41. Three-point goals: 2 (Hilverding 2).