WATERFORD, Ohio — All was well through eight minutes of play. Then came the rest of the first half.

Host Waterford used a 14-2 second quarter surge to ultimately take control Tuesday night en route to a 52-40 decision over South Gallia in a Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division boys basketball matchup in Washington County.

The Rebels (1-1, 0-1 TVC Hocking) hit three trifectas to stay even (9-all) with the Wildcats after one quarter of play, but the guests went without a field goal and netted only two free throws in the second canto — which allowed WHS (1-0, 1-0) to take a 23-11 advantage into the intermission.

Both Waterford and SGHS traded 29 points apiece in the second half. The Wildcats used a small 14-13 run in the third quarter to take a 37-24 edge into the finale, but South Gallia closed the game with a 16-15 spurt to wrap up the 12-point outcome.

The Rebels hit six trifectas and had a total of 11 field goals in the contest, while WHS netted just two three-pointers and 21 floor shots in all. The guests were 12-of-19 at the free throw line for 63 percent, while Waterford was 6-of-20 at the charity stripe for 30 percent.

Brayden Greer led the Rebels with 19 points, followed by Kody Lambert with 11 points and Ethan Swain with five markers. Landon Hutchinson and Michael Wheeler each had two points in the setback, while Trevor Slone rounded things out with one point.

Austin Shriver paced WHS with 19 points, followed by Wyatt Porter with 11 points and Tanner Pottmeyer with 10 markers.