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GALLIPOLIS, Ohio — Visiting Teays Valley Christian hit eight trifectas and never trailed after the first quarter Monday night following a 70-61 decision over the Ohio Valley Christian boys basketball team in a non-conference matchup in Gallia County.

The host Defenders (5-7) claimed early leads of 3-2 and 5-3, but the Lions countered with three-pointer from Elias Beacom at the 4:33 mark — allowing the guests to secure a lead it would never relinquish. Beacom added two more trifectas in the period, aiding a 9-8 run to end the first stanza with a small 15-13 edge.

OVCS pulled to within a point on three occasions in the second canto, the last of which came at 21-20 with 4:13 left in the half. The Lions, however, countered with seven straight points over the next 60-plus seconds — capped by a three from Evan Conaway — for a 28-20 lead with 3:06 remaining.

TVCS (15-4) claimed its biggest lead of the opening half at the 1:10 mark after Ben Parsons drilled a trifecta, giving the Lions a 35-25 edge. The Defenders, however, closed the final minute with a 4-0 spurt to pull within 35-29 at the intermission.

Ohio Valley Christian had six turnovers and was 13-of-29 from the field in the opening 16 minutes, including a 1-of-4 effort from three-point range. TVCS, conversely, had three turnovers while connecting on 15-of-38 shot attempts, including a 5-of-13 effort from behind the arc.

The Lions canned two three-pointers and went on an 8-0 run just 45 seconds into the second half, allowing the guests to claim their biggest lead of the contest at 43-29. The Defenders, however, answered with an 18-5 charge over the final seven minutes to cut the deficit down to 48-47 headed into the finale.

Both teams traded baskets to start the fourth, with T.G. Miller hitting a field goal at the 6:30 mark for 50-49 deficit. The hosts, however, never came closer the rest of the way.

The Lions retaliated with a dozen consecutive points for a 62-49 edge at the 4:01 mark, and OVCS was never within more than nine points down the stretch.

The Defenders finished the evening 24-of-50 from the field for 48 percent, including a 5-of-11 effort from three-point range for 45 percent. The hosts committed 20 turnovers — including 14 in the second half — and also went 8-of-14 at the free throw line for 57 percent.

T.G. Miller led Ohio Valley Christian with a game-high 36 points, 20 of which came in the opening half. Chance Burleson and Marshall Hood were next with nine points apiece, while Phil Hollingshead and Evan Bowman rounded out the respective scoring with four and three markers.

Teays Valley Christian connected on 28-of-66 shot attempts for 42 percent, including an 8-of-22 effort from behind the arc for 36 percent. The guests committed 13 turnovers and sank 6-of-13 charity tosses for 46 percent.

Elias Beacom paced the Lions with 26 points, followed by Zack Moore with 21 points and Ben Parsons with 11 markers.