The Ellsworth boys’ basketball team welcomed the Southeast of Saline Trojans for their homecoming night Jan. 30 in an NCAA matchup. Both teams came into the contest being used to being higher in league standings, but still evenly matched, nonetheless.

Junior Jace Thomasson started the scoring off for the Bearcats by hitting two straight shots from behind the arc to give Ellsworth the early 6-2 lead. Following a Trojan 3-pointer, senior Cooper McGowan scored next for Ellsworth on a drive to the hoop, giving the Bearcats an 8-5 lead.

Following an 8-8 tie, the two teams played through three lead changes and three ties as Ellsworth went on to lead by 7 at the end of the first quarter with a score of 19-12.

The two teams traded 5-0 mini runs to start the second quarter before Southeast closed the gap to a single point. As the half ran down, both teams traded the lead three times, with the Trojans claiming the final lead of the half with a 31-30 score.

The Bearcats’ shooting went cold in the third quarter as Ellsworth was held scoreless for the first four minutes until McGowan broke the scoring drought with 3:38 left in the frame. In the meantime, Southeast extended their lead to 10 points. The Trojans were able to hang on to that lead as the period came to an end with a 48-38 score.

Following a Southeast run where the Trojans extended their lead to 14 points, the Bearcats clawed within 8 points, but the Trojans went on to win the game 63-52.

Leading the Bearcats in scoring were senior Tucker Goss with 24 points and McGowan with 12 points, while Thomasson and freshman Coulson Barta added 6 points apiece.

The Bearcats will host Minneapolis Feb. 10.