The Tidioute Bulldogs defeated Warren County Christian School for the third time this season on Monday, but they had to work to do it.

Tidioute held off a furious fourth-quarter rally by the Lions to win by a final score of 51-44. It was the closest margin of victory for any of the three games this season.

“(Warren County Christian) made quite the effort to come back and we got really sloppy with the basketball,” said Tidioute coach Dave Manning. “We turned the ball over 17 times in the fourth quarter. They played hard. We just need to take better care of the ball – end of story.”

The Lions scored 18 points in their comeback attempt after being held to single digits in each of the first three quarters. Erik Sorensen scored 17 points while Tommy Jones and Josiah Poindexter each finished with 12.

Both the Tidioute boys and girls will visit Commodore Perry in a makeup game on Wednesday. The boys game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with the Lady Bulldogs to follow.

Warren County Christian hosts Calvary Baptist on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Tidioute also won the junior varsity game over WCCS, 35-20.

WCCS (44): Sorensen 6 4-5 17, Ballard 0 0-1 0, Brenner 0 0-0 0, Matteson 0 0-0 0, Phelps 0 0-1 0, T. Jones 4 3-6 12, Poindexter 5 2-5 12, J. Jones 0 0-0 0.

TIDIOUTE (51): Buccardo 1 0-0 2, Martin 1 0-0 2, McLaughlin 6 1-2 13, Thompson 1 0-5 2, Heckman 0 1-2 1, Kightlinger 9 4-5 25, McAfoose 0 0-0 0, Bonner 1 1-2 4, Richard 0 0-0 0.

WCCS 7 8 8 18 – 44

Tidioute 8 16 17 10 – 51

3-pointers: W – Sorensen 1, T. Jones 1; T – Kightlinger 3, Bonner 1.

Junior varsity game

WCCS (20): Root 0 0-0 0, Brenner 1 0-0 2, Matteson 1 0-0 2, Kerr 1 0-0 2, J. Jones 0 1-2 1, S. Brenner 1 0-0 2, Sorensen 1 0-0 2, Haul 0 0-0 0, D. Jones 1 0-0 2, Roffenberger 0 0-0 0, Weidner 1 0-0 2, Peterson 2 1-2 5.

TIDIOUTE (35): Buccardo 0 0-0 0, Richard 3 0-0 6, Harmon 1 0-0 2, Smith 0 0-0 0, Gourley 0 0-0 0, Heckman 5 2-2 13, Meece 2 0-0 4, Anderson 0 0-0 0, McAfoose 5 0-0 10, Heenan 0 0-0 0, Hillard 0 0-0 0.

WCCS 5 2 3 10 – 10

Tidioute 14 4 12 5 – 35

3-pointers: W – none; T – Heckman 1.