ROCKSPRINGS, Ohio — The Marauders couldn’t get past a slow start Saturday night in Larry R. Morrison Gymnasium, as they fell to Tri-Valley Conference Ohio division foe Athens, 69-52.

Meigs (6-6, 3-3 TVC Ohio) was held to just six points in the opening stanza, while Athens (12-2, 4-1) took the early advantage with 13 points. The Maroon and Gold got things going offensively in the second, marking 15 points in the period. AHS dropped 18 in the second and led 31-21 at the half.

The Bulldogs doubled the Marauders output after halftime, out scoring the hosts 24-to-12 in the third period. MHS bounced back with a 19-to-14 spurt to close the contest but it wasn’t enough and the Green and Gold took their fifth straight victory.

Freshman Kaileb Sheets led Meigs with 18 points on the night, followed by Treay McKinney with 14 and Cody Stewart with eight. Jordan Hutton chipped in with five points, Jared Williamson added four, while Dillon Boyer had two. Ty Phelps rounded out the MHS scoring with one point in the game.

The Marauders were held to just 20 rebounds in the game, led by Stewart with six. Sheets had two of the five MHS assists, and three of its six steals to lead the team. MHS committed nine turnovers and 15 fouls in the game.

Meigs shot 14-of-18 (77. 8 percent) from the free throw line and 18-of-46 (39.1 percent) from the field, including with 2-of-7 (28.6 percent) from beyond the arc. McKinney and Sheets each hit one three-pointer for MHS.

Athens had just five players mark in the scoring column, led by sophomore Joe Burrow with 22. Zacchia Saltzman had 17 points, Jared Elmore had 14, and Ibi Watson added 12. Sawyer Summers rounded out the AHS scoring with four points.

Athens shot 15-of-17 from the charity stripe for 88.2 percent. The Bulldogs committed six turnovers and 14 fouls. Burrow had four three-pointers for the victors, while Saltzman and Watson each had two.

Meigs will have one more crack at the Green and Gold this year, on February 1st in The Plains.