EXETER, Mo. —The Thomas Jefferson Independent School basketball teams swept Exeter on Monday night in their respective season openers.
The Thomas Jefferson boys came from behind to beat the Tigers 66-65.
Exeter led 44-42 entering the fourth quarter, but the Cavaliers outscored the Tigers 24-21 in the final frame.
Senior post player Jay Ball led the Cavaliers with 24 points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots, while senior guard/forward Tyler Brouhard added 15 points, hitting a pair of 3-pointers.
Kohl Thurman scored eight for TJ, while Kip Atteberry and Levi Triplett added seven points apiece. Also for the Cavaliers (1-0), Tony Touma scored three points, Ethan Renger had two.
Kason Nelson scored 16 points and Nathaniel Tackett added 14 to lead Exeter (0-1).
The Thomas Jefferson girls rolled to a 52-26 victory.
The Cavaliers (1-0) got off to a slow start with just eight points in the first quarter, but the visitors erupted for 17 points in the second period.
Thomas Jefferson also finished strong by scoring 18 points in the fourth quarter.
Gabbi Hiebert scored 17 points and hit a 3-pointer to lead the TJ girls.
Sophomore Lannah Grigg scored 19 points for TJ, while sophomore Presley Long added eight points and junior Alexis Stamps had five.
Tannah Grigg, Sarah Mueller and Nico Carlson all contributed four points apiece.
Both Thomas Jefferson squads are at Bronaugh on Tuesday night.
