SIDNEY — It isn’t always easy.

But, the Tippecanoe boys basketball team always finds a way to finish.

And Tuesday’s 39-24 win over Sidney in MVL action to improve to 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the MVL was another great example of that.

Against West Carrollton, Tipp had led by one at half before pulling away in the second half.

Against Troy, the Red Devils had trailed going to the fourth quarter before winning.

And Tuesday night, Tipp was leading a defensive battle with Sidney 26-22 late in the third quarter, before outscoring the Jackets 13-2 the rest of the way.

“That’s one thing we always talk about,” Tippecanoe coach Brock Moon said. “Just keep getting after it on defense and rebounding and eventually things are going to fall our way.”

It started with a putback by Josh Dietz at the third quarter buzzer to make 28-22.

Then Evan Manes hit three 3-pointers to make it 37-24 midway through the fourth quarter, before Jackson Smith scored the game’s final points on an assist from Maddox Sivon.

“Sidney was in a zone,” Moon said. “And Evan (Manes) was able to shake open a couple times. Those were big shots.”

The Tippecanoe defense did the rest.

The Red Devils took it to another level in the fourth quarter, limiting Sidney to two points on a basket by Jy Foster-Wheeler.

“To hold a team to 24 points is pretty good,” Moon said. “And that is a good team. That is probably the most physical team we have played.”

The first half was a struggle at the offensive end for both teams.

Tipp got 3-pointers from Manes and Dietz and Sidney countered with one from A’zon Steele as the Red Devils led 6-3.

The battle continued in the second quarter with Tipp scoring the final five points of the half to erase a 12-10 deficit.

Myles Vordemark had scored back-to-back baskets to give Sidney the lead, before Smith it a free throw, Dietz scored inside and Smith had a putback to put the Devils up at the breaks.

Smith had a big third quarter, scoring off assists from Manes and Sivon and hitting two free throws and Stanley Clyne hit a 3-pointer — his only basket of the night.

Sam Reynolds scored inside to get Sidney within 26-22 — before Tippecanoe’s “big finish”.

Manes led a balanced Red Devil attack with 12 points, hitting four of his six 3-point attempts and Smith added 11 points and even rebounds.

Dietz added nine points and six rebounds and Liam Poronsky had 10 rebounds and three steals.

Clyne had three assists and four steals and Sivon had seven rebounds and three assists off the bench.

Vordemark had seven points and six rebounds for Sidney and Steele scored seven points.

Reynolds had three assists, four steals and two blocked shots.

Tipp was 15 of 50 from the floor for 30 percent, including six of 16 on 3-pointers for 38 percent. The Red Devils made three of four free throws for 75 percent.

Sidney was 10 of 40 from the floor for 25 percent, including two of 14 from the long range for 14 percent. The Jackets made both of their free throw attempts.

Tipp won the battle of the boards 34-19, but had 15 turnovers to Sidney’s 10.

Tipp will host Butler Friday night — looking for another big finish.

You can reach Sports Editor Rob Kiser at [email protected]