GLOUSTER — The Eastern boys basketball team received its toughest test of the early season on Friday night at Trimble, but the visiting Eagles managed to keep their unbeaten record intact during a 60-49 victory over the Tomcats in a Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division matchup in Athens County.

The Eagles (3-0, 2-0 TVC Hocking) — who won their first two contests over Waterford and South Gallia by a combined 86 points — were given quite a test by the host Tomcats (0-3, 0-2) in the first quarter, as both teams battled through three ties and two lead changes before EHS ended the opening canto with a small 17-16 advantage.

The Green and White, however, started to find their rhythm in the second period, going on a 12-5 run over the opening 5:45 to turn a slim one-point edge into a comfortable 29-21 lead with 2:15 remaining in the half.

Trimble cut into the deficit over the remainder of the half, going on a small 6-3 spurt to pull within 32-27 at the intermission.

The hosts managed to trim Eastern’s lead down to three (32-29) in the opening minute of the third quarter, but the Eagles countered with a 5-0 charge over the next 2:30 for a 37-29 lead with 4:30 remaining in the stanza.

The Tomcats closed that deficit down to one possession (39-36) with 90 seconds left in the third, but Eastern countered with small 4-1 spurt at the end of the canto for a 43-37 advantage headed into the finale.

EHS outscored the hosts 17-12 in the finale and led by as many 11 points (52-41) with 4:15 left in regulation, but Trimble made one last surge over the next three minutes — cutting its deficit to one possession (52-49) with one minute showing on the clock.

The Eagles scored the final eight points of the contest to wrap up the 11-point outcome.

Eastern finished the night 20-of-55 from the floor for 36 percent, including 7-of-20 from three-point territory for 35 percent. The hosts, conversely, were 16-of-39 from the field overall for 41 percent, including 3-of-12 from three-point range for 25 percent.

The Green and White had seven players reach the scoring column in the victory, led by Titus Pierce with game-highs 17 points and seven rebounds. Kelly Winebrenner was next with 12 points, followed by Jake Lynch with nine markers and Kyle Connery with seven.

Tyler Hendrix added six points to the winning cause and Devon Baum chipped in five markers, while Mike Johnson rounded out the scoring with four points. EHS was also 13-of-20 at the free throw line for 65 percent.

Chuck Love led Trimble with 14 points, followed by Noah Guthrie and Richard Drake with nine markers apiece. The hosts finished the night 14-of-20 at the charity stripe for 70 percent.

Trimble salvaged an evening split with a 52-31 victory in the junior varsity contest. Max Carnahan led the JV Eagles with 14 points.

Eastern played at the Convo on Saturday night against Huntington Ross and will return to action on Friday when it hosts Miller on Friday in another TVC Hocking matchup at 6 p.m.