After an even third quarter, the Troy Christian boys’ basketball team watched Lehman outscore them 11-4 over the final three minutes of the game, as the Eagles lost in the opening game of the Buckeye Insurance Holiday Tournament held last week at Piqua High School 58-49.

The Eagles came back on the second night and was defeated 48-41 by the Covington Buccs.

Against Lehman, the Eagles fell behind quickly as they struggled with turnovers early in the game, forcing coach Ray Zawadzki to use an early timeout trailing 5-0. Luke Dillahunt finally ended the drought, and when Ian Anderson connected on a pair of free throws with 4:11 left in the opening period, the Eagles only trailed 7-4.

Lehman continued to pressure the Eagles and led 11-7 when Troy Christian warmed up from the perimeter. Chase Hayden connected on a three with two minutes left in the period, then 30 seconds later, Hayden Hartman did the same, giving the Eagles the 13-11 lead.

Troy Christian used the first four minutes to establish a lead, as Hayden and Dillahunt pushed the lead to 20-12 just two minutes into the second period, and when Hartman connected on a three with just over five minutes left in the half, the Eagles were leading 25-14.

A 5-0 run by Lehman closed the gap to six before Jacob Brown stopped the bleeding with two free throws with 1:42 left in the half. A layup from Hayden in the closing seconds sent Troy Christian into the locker room with a 29-20 advantage at the half.

Lehman took over in the third period, and before the Eagles knew what hit them, the game was tied at 32.

Lehman then took a lead before Brown scored on a three-point play to give the Eagles a 35-34 lead with 25 seconds left in the third. Hayden closed the scoring for Troy Christian in the last second when a driving layup, and the game went to the fourth tied at 37.

Lehman took the lead right away in the fourth, and never lost it. The closest the Eagles could get was 42-41 with 4:10 left in the game on a score from Anderson, but the Cavs controlled the rest of the way.

James Anderson led the Eagles in scoring with 15 points, while Hayden added ten.

*Against Covington, the Eagles tried to charge back and get this win, but fell short 48-41 to the Buccs. Anderson again led Troy Christian with 14 points.