The Wolverines were up 28-19 with 2:30 to play in the third when Gage Hendrickson hit a 3-pointer to start the Eagles’ rally. Youngsville started a rally in the opening game against Maplewood with approximately the same time remaining.

“(That’s) when we start realizing we’re in a dogfight,” Youngsville coach Jesse DeLoof said. “Then we decide we want to win. And that’s not going to cut it when we’re in region play.”

Youngsville began the game with an 8-0 run through the first 4:25. Walker Kyler got Sheffield on the board, and his bucket started a 9-0 run for the Wolverines. Ethan Kesterholt hit a corner 3 to put the Eagles back on top with a minute to play and Hendrickson made a late layup to give Youngsville a 13-9 advantage after the first eight minutes.

“One time down on defense we don’t get matched up and they get an easy 2,” DeLoof said. “Then they go on a run and suddenly it’s 9-8.”

Sheffield’s Walker Kyler (23) rips a rebound away from Youngsville’s Dominic Dell (00) during the first half of the Sheffield Sports Boosters Christmas Tournament consolation game at Sheffield High School, Friday, Dec. 28, 2018. The Eagles defeated the Wolverines, 43-39.

Sheffield started the second quarter with an 8-0 run of its own to take a 17-13 lead.

Brady Olewine hit a jumper at the midway point of the quarter for the Eagles first points in the frame. He hit another with 1:05 to play in the half to tie the game at 17-17, and neither team scored again before heading to the locker room.

“We don’t play up to our potential and it’s my job to get them to play up to that ability,” DeLoof said. “If we’re playing to our ability, we’re running away in the first quarter. Instead, we get up eight and pat ourselves on the back and drop our intensity and focus. We need to expect more from ourselves and do it for 32 minutes.”

Tyler Hepinger and Tony Richards hit three 3-pointers early in the third quarter as the Wolverines built the 28-19 advantage.

“We were playing more disciplined,” Sheffield coach Jordan Copley said. “I told them (in the first quarter) we need to play our game, not someone else’s game. We started playing our game.”

 Youngsville’s Timber Bower (13) passes to teammate Gage Hendrickson (11) during the second half of the Sheffield Sports Boosters Christmas Tournament consolation game against Sheffield

Hendrickson hit his first 3 with 2:17 to play, then buried another with 1:20 left in the frame to pull Youngsville within one at 28-27. The teams traded baskets in the final minute and Sheffield held a 30-29 edge heading to the fourth.

Hendrickson put in a layup just over a minute into the fourth to give the Eagles their first lead since the second quarter. An Olewine three two minutes later gave Youngsville a 36-32 lead. The Eagles built a 41-36 advantage, but Hepinger hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to two with 1:30 to go. Nyko Mercado’s layup with 1:09 to go ended the scoring as Youngsville got a stop and dribbled the clock down to 12 seconds before giving the ball back to Sheffield.

“Give credit to Sheffield for how hard they played,” DeLoof said. “When they’re not playing us, I’m always rooting for them. I know they way they play, the way they work. They do things the right way and they’re easy to root for. I give a lot of credit to them.

“Ethan Kesterholt gave us some great minutes,” he continued. “And Gage stepped up when he needed to. I think we can turn the corner in January. We just need to play for a full 32 minutes each night.”

Hendrickson and Hepinger each finished with 20 points. Olewine was the only other player to score in double figures, he finished with 14 points.

Sheffield’s Mitch McNeal (24) puts in a layup during the first half of the Sheffield Sports Boosters Christmas Tournament consolation game against Youngsville at Sheffield High School,

Hepinger and Richards were co-winners in the 3-point contest. They were tied after the final round, which also featured Hendrickson and Sheffield’s Gavin LaVan, then tied again in the shootout.

– – –

Youngsville (43)

Hendrickson 8-0-0-20, Olewine 6-1-2-14, Mack 2-0-0-4, Kesterholt 1-0-0-3, Mercado 1-0-3-2, Peterson 0-0-0-0, Dell 0-0-0-0, Bower 0-0-0-0, Team 18-1-5-43

Sheffield (39)

Hepinger 8-1-1-20, Richards 3-0-0-7, McNeal 3-0-0-6, Albaugh 1-0-0-2, LaVan 1-0-0-2, Kyler 1-0-0-2, Benjamin 0-0-0-0, Copley 0-0-0-0, Team 17-1-1-39

By quarters

Youngsville 13 4 12 14 – 43

Sheffield 9 8 13 9 – 39

3-point FGs: Youngsville (6)-Hendrickson 4, Olewine, Kesterholt. Sheffield (4)-Hepinger 3, Richards.

– – –

CHAMPIONSHIP: MAPLEWOOD 55, KANE 53

Maplewood held off Kane’s fourth-quarter rally to win the Sheffield Sports Boosters Christmas Tournament, 55-53.

Camden Mattocks and Jordan Hollabaugh led a quartet of Tigers in double figures with 14 points each. Clay Cox had 11 and Joel Cox 10 in the win.

Chad Greville was one of three Wolves in double figures with 18 points. Alex Rezzelle added 15 and Carson Whiteman 11 in the loss.