WELLSTON, Ohio — A 41-16 second half surge ultimately allowed host Wellston to pull away for a 69-37 victory over the Meigs boys basketball team Friday night during a Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division matchup in Jackson County.

The Marauders (0-11, 0-4 TVC Ohio) kept things close in the first half, as the guests trailed 11-9 after eight minutes and 28-21 headed into the break. The Rockets (5-2, 2-2), however, opened the third quarter with a 15-5 surge to establish a 43-26 advantage headed into the finale, then closed regulation with a 26-11 charge to wrap up the 32-point decision.

Meigs was outrebounded by a 39-31 margin and also committed 31 turnovers in the setback, 11 more than the hosts’ final tally of 20 giveaways. MHS was also 14-of-59 from the field for 24 percent, including a 3-of-15 effort from three-point range for 20 percent.

Jesse Smith led the Marauders with 12 points and nine rebounds, followed by Darrel Goff with eight points and Cody Mattox with five markers. Dillon Boyer added four points, while Jordan Hutton added three markers.

Cody Stewart and Dennis Teaford both contributed two points each, while Rocco Casci rounded out the scoring with one point. The guests were 6-of-9 at the free throw line for 67 percent.

Nigel Courts paced the Rockets with a game-high 25 points, followed by Austin Craig and Blake Warrington with 12 markers apiece. WHS was 8-of-10 at the charity stripe for 80 percent and also made 29-of-64 field goal attempts for 45 percent, including a 3-for-20 effort from three-point territory for 15 percent.

Meigs returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Vinton County in a TVC Ohio contest at 6 p.m.

Wellston 69, Meigs 37

M 9-12-5-11 — 37

W 11-17-15-26 — 69

MEIGS (0-11, 0-4 TVC Ohio): Treay McKinney 0 0-0 0, Dillon Boyer 2 0-0 4, Darrel Goff 3 1-2 8, Jordan Hutton 1 0-0 3, Michael Davis 0 0-0 0, Rocco Casci 0 1-2 1, Cody Mattox 2 0-0 5, Cody Stewart 1 0-0 2, Jesse Smith 5 2-3 12, Jared Williamson 0 0-0 0, Dennis Teaford 0 2-2 2. TOTALS: 14 6-9 37. Three-point goals: 3 (Goff, Hutton, Mattox). Field Goals: 14-59 (.237). Rebounds: 33. Turnovers: 31.

WELLSTON (5-2, 2-2 TVC Ohio): Josh Jayjohn 0 0-0 0, Jake Waldron 0 0-0 0, Colton Ervin 1 2-2 4, Andrew Richards 0 0-0 0, Dakota Brown 1 0-0 2, Nigel Courts 12 1-1 25, Ernest Brown 2 0-0 5, Nick Derrow 0 0-0 0, Justus Ousley 4 0-0 9, Austin Craig 5 2-4 12, Blake Warrington 4 3-3 12. TOTALS: 29 8-10 69. Three-point goals: 3 (E. Brown, Ousley, Warrington). Field Goals: 29-64 (.453). Rebounds: 39. Turnovers: 20.