TROY — The Tippecanoe boys basketball team’s defense and the play of Jackson Smith inside were the difference in a 47-34 win over Troy Friday night in MVL action.

Tipp improved to 3-0 overall and 3-0 in the MVL, while Troy dropped to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the MVL.

In a defensive battle in the first half, Tipp came away with a 16-12 lead.

But, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Smith asserted his physical presence in the second half as the Red Devils began to pound the ball inside.

After Caden Turner hit two free throws and Maddox Sivon scored inside, Smith scored on three straight possessions as Tipp opened the second half with a 10-4 run to take a 26-16 lead.

Kellen Miller answered with a 3-pointer for Troy.

After C.J. Bailey and A.J. Jergens had baskets for Tipp, Troy’s Bryce Haught closed the quarter with a 3-point play to get the Trojans within 30-22.

After Smith scored the first two points of the fourth quarter, Miller had a basket for Troy and Haught and Isaac Burns hit two free throws each to get Troy within 34-28 with 3:45 to go.

Troy had an opportunity to get closer when Tipp missed two free throws , but Jackson Davis came down with a long rebound and kicked it out to Bailey for a 3-pointer from behind the top of the key to make it 37-28

Troy could no closer than seven the rest of the way.

Smith led Tipp with 16 points and 10 rebounds and Bailey had 14 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots.

Sivon had a great defensive effort, to go with eight points and 10 rebounds and Turner added five points and three steals.

Miller led Troy with 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots

Brady O’Leary scored nine points and Haught added seven points and three steals.

Evan Kaiser had five rebounds and Aiden Luis had three assists.

Tipp was 16 of 47 from the floor for 34 percent, including two of 12 from long range for 17 percent. The Red Devils made 13 of 17 from the line for 76 percent.

Troy was 13 of 45 from the floor for 29 percent, including two of eight on 3-pointers for 25 percent. The Trojans converted six of eight from the line for 75 percent.

Tipp won the battle of the boards 33-23 and had 13 turnovers to Troy’s 16.

Stebbins 33,

Piqua 27

DAYTON — The Piqua boys basketball team lost a defensive battle on the road Friday night.

The Indians are now 1-2 overall and 1-2 in the MVL.

Isaiah Martin had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Indians and Mickey Anderson added nine points and three assists.

Jace Weber scored five points and Tate Kuhlman had five rebounds and four steals.

Drake Owen had three steals.

Troy Christian 87,

Covington 54

COVINGTON — The Troy Christian boys basketball team got a road win in the season opener for both teams.

The Eagles led 19-14, 49-32 and 76-43 at the quarter breaks.

Parker Penrod had 23 points and three assists for the Eagles.

Riston Taylor had 15 points and seven rebounds and Ethan Grise scored 14 points.

Frank Rupnik had 13 points and five assists and Alex Free had 10 points, eight rebounds and six assists off the bench.

Bryson Hite had 16 points for Covington and Britton Miller had 13 points and three assists.

Brogan Angle had 12 points and Tanner Palsgrove had six points and three assists.

Connor Humphrey scored five points and Gunner Kimmel pulled down nine rebounds.

Northridge 55,

Miami East 51

DAYTON — The Miami East boys basketball team dropped its TRC opener on the road Friday night.

The Vikings are 1-2 overall now.

East trailed 7-4, 26-24 and 38-31 at the quarter breaks.

Jacob Roeth led the Vikings with 17 points and five assists.

Ty Rohrer had 12 points and six rebounds, Devon Abshire scored nine points and pulled down five rebounds and Kamden Wolfe added eight points and seven rebounds.

Connor Apple added five points and three rebounds.

Lehman 57,

Milton-Union 26

SIDNEY — The Lehman Catholic boys basketball team opened the season with a home in in TRC action.

Milton-Union is now 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the TRC.

Lehman led 16-7, 27-15 and 46-20 at the quarter breaks.

Donovan O’Leary led the Cavaliers with 21 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

C.J. Olding had eight points, five rebounds and three assists and Shane Frantz scored seven points.

Turner Lachey had five points and four assists, Daniel Carlisle and Devon Pride each scored five points and Da’Ron Pride had three assists.

The Cavaliers hit seven of 12 shots from long range and 12 of 13 from the line.

Titus Copp had eight points for Milton-Union.

Wyatt Kimmel scored seven points and Jacob Grub added six points.

Riverside 53,

Bethel 51

DEGRAFF — The Bethel boys basketball team lost a close game on the road Friday night in TRC action.

The Bees dropped to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the TRC.

Bethel led 14-13 after one quarter, but trailed 29-25 at halftime and 46-40 after three quarters.

Mike Halleg had 21 points and six rebounds for the Bees, while Jonas Friend scored 10 points.

Cameron Ahrens had nine points and six rebounds off the bench and Eli Lowery scored five points.

Elijah Alberti had five rebounds and two blocked shots and Landon Cornwell dished out four assists.

Bradford 45,

Newton 42

PLEASANT HILL — The Bradford boys basketball team got a close win in the WOAC opener for both teams Friday night.

The Railroaders trailed 9-7 after one quarter, but 15-13 at halftime and 29-25 after three quarters.

For Bradford, Owen Canan had 18 points and five rebounds and Hudson Hill scored 11 points.

Landon Wills had six points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots and Zage Harleman scored six points.

For Newton, Ty Schauer had 13 points and Quinn Peters had 11 points and five rebounds.

Austin Tippie had eight points and 11 rebounds and Luke Cornett had six points, seven rebounds and four steals.

Will Bowser had three assists.

SATURDAY

Bethel 60,

Tecumseh 50

NEW CARLISLE — The Bethel boys basketball team got a win on the road Saturday night.

The Bees led 20-6, 34-19 and 43-29 at the quarter breaks.

Mike Halleg had 14 points, six rebounds and four assists and Jonas Friend and Elijah Alberti scored eight points each.

Carson Staton had a perfect night with 13 points on 4-for-4 shooting from the floor, including 3-for-3 from 3-point range and hit both his free throw attempts.

Cameron Ahrens scored six points, Eli Lowery had five points and Landon Cornwell pulled down nine rebounds.

Fort Recovery 50

Bradford 49

FORT RECOVERY —The Bradford boys basketball team couldn’t hold a halftime lead Saturday night in non-conference action.

The Railroaders trailed 16-12 after one quarter, but led 27-22 at halftime.

The Indians took a 38-36 lead after three quarters and held on for the win.

Hudson Hill led Bradford with 20 points and five rebounds.

Owen Canan had 14 points and five assists and Landon Wills had eight points, six rebounds and three blocked shots.

Zage Harleman had two blocked shots.

Sports Editor Rob Kiser can be reached at [email protected]