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RACINE, Ohio — Farewell old friend.

In a gym which has played host to its share of good basketball, Friday’s finale was no exception.

Friday night’s game between cross county rivals Eastern (8-14, 7-9 TVC Hocking) and Southern (10-12, 8-8 TVC Hocking) at Charles W. Hayman Gymnasium marked not only Senior Night and the regular season finale, but the final high school sporting event to be played in the facility. Southern’s new High School will be open for next season.

While the guests looked to upset Southern early in the contest, a fourth quarter rally gave the Tornadoes the needed boost to secure the 50-44 victory.

Eastern scored first, with the Tornadoes tying the game at two and six before falling behind until 30 seconds remaining in the first half, when Southern took its first lead of the night on a basket by Tristen Wolfe. Southern lead 23-20 at the half after trailing by five at the end of the first quarter.

After extending the lead to six points, 26-20, in the early third quarter, Southern was held scoreless for the next five and a half minutes.

Eastern scored 13 consecutive points to end the third quarter with a 33-26 lead.

Eastern continued to hold a slim lead over the first five minutes of the fourth quarter.

Southern took the lead for good on a basket by Dennis Teaford. Teaford would add three more points in the closing minutes, with Wolfe also scoring two points. A pair of free throws by Taylor McNickle with 10 seconds remaining were the final points scored in the game to give Southern the 50-44 victory.

Chandler Drummer lead the Tornadoes with 15 points and eight rebounds in the game. Teaford added 12 points and five rebounds in the win. Wolfe scored eight points, Casey Pickens had six points, and McNickle added five points. Trenton Deem and Zac Beegle each had two points.

Wolfe also had seven rebounds and four assists, McNickle had seven rebounds and two assists, and Hunter Johnson added three assists.

Max Carnahan lead the Eagles in scoring with 17 points.

Kirk Pullins had a double-double with 10 points and 19 assists. Troy Gantt added nine points, Zakk Heaton had two points and Chase cook rounded out the scoring with one point.

Eastern had defeated Southern by a score of 54-51 at Eastern in December.

This was the final home game for Southern senior Adam Pape.

The two teams will meet again in the sectional semifinal on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at Meigs High School.