The Big Reds showed why they’re the defending D-10 champions by connecting on five first quarter 3-pointers and never trailed en route to a 61-32 win over the upstart Eagles.

Youngsville missed its first seven field goal attempts as the young squad fought through some early butterflies.

“The nerves showed early,” Youngsville coach Jesse DeLoof said. “We missed some shots we usually make.”

Casey Mild hit the first of his four 3-pointers on the Reds’ first possession, but both teams struggled to score until Ethan Kesterholt got Youngsville on the board with 3:30 to play in the quarter.

Youngsvile’s Brady Olewine speaks to his teammates just before the start of their District 10 Class 2A basketball playoff first round game at West Middlesex High School, Friday, Feb. 15, 2019.

Then the barrage was on. Mild hit his second trey, but Gage Hendrickson answered with a 3 of his own. Kaz Hoffman got in on the action with his first deep ball, then hit another a minute later. Ricky Ladjevich closed out the first quarter with his first 3-pointer with 20 seconds to go.

By the time it was over, West Middlesex had an 18-5 advantage.

“We didn’t do a good job recognizing (Hoffman) shooting,” DeLoof said.

Hoffman and Ladjevich picked up right where they left off to start the second, hitting back-to-back 3s to start the quarter. The Big Reds went cold from beyond the arc for most of the rest of the frame, but the Eagles weren’t able to cut into the deficit.

Hoffman connected again late in the quarter to push the advantage to 33-11 at the half.

The Eagles found their stride a bit in the third quarter as Brady Olewine opened the half with a pull-up jumper and Joe Mack followed with a running floater. Youngsville clamped down defensively and limited West Middlesex to just nine points in the period.

“In the second half we were more aggressive with our transition,” DeLoof said.

Timber Bower knocked down an early 3-pointer to trim the lead to 42-26 early in the fourth, but Mild found his groove again and buried a pair of 3s of his own to keep the Eagles at bay.

“Credit to West Middlesex,” DeLoof said. “They’re fundamentally sound and that’s where we need to get.”

The Big Reds had four players in double figures, led by Mild’s game-high 20 points. Jake Bowen had 14, Hoffman and Ladjevich 13 each.

Hendrickson led the Eagles with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Kesterholt had six points and Mack four.

DeLoof said the Eagles will use this experience to get better in the offseason and help prepare them to take another step forward next season.

“Next season starts tomorrow,” he said. “Not in the gym, but going to class and getting our minds and bodies ready. We bring back everyone but Nyko, and he’s been a great teammate and person. This year was built by him and Dean Procter and Noah Myers, those guys were instrumental in helping get us where we are.

“We saw the guys progress,” DeLoof continued. “We’re going to make a list and evaluate (coaches) and players. The next step is to set ourselves up to make teams come to us (in the playoffs) next year.”

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YOUNGSVILLE (32)

Hendrickson 5-2-2-13, Kesterholt 3-0-1-6, Mack 2-0-0-4, Bower 1-0-0-3, Olewine 1-1-2-3, Mercado 1-1-2-3, Mowrey 0-0-2-0, Peterson 0-0-2-0, Team 13-4-10-32

WEST MIDDLESEX (61)

C. Mild 7-2-2-20, Bowen 7-0-0-14, Hoffman 4-1-2-13, Ladjevich 5-1-1-13, Long 0-1-2-1, G. Mild 0-0-0-0, B. Smith 0-0-0-0, Team 23-5-7-61

By quarters

Youngsville 5 8 12 8 –

West Middlesex 18 15 9 19 – 61

3-point FG: Youngsville (2)-Hendrickson, Bower. West Middlesex (10)-C. Mild 4, Hoffman 4, Ladjevich 2.