There were icicles hanging from the rims in the Tri-County gym Tuesday night when neighborhood rival English Valleys came calling. Both teams were ice cold and the rust from the long holiday break was evident. Both teams had all their games canceled the week before the break and weather conditions made practice time very limited.

Offense in the first half was practically non-existent as the Bears were able to build a 9-6 halftime lead. The offense picked up in the second half and English Valleys steadily pulled away to a 28-21 win.

The Trojans actually took a 5-4 lead after one quarter of play as Katie Clubb put down a perimeter shot and a free throw and Brittany Kirkpatrick knocked down a perimeter shot.

The second period was a disaster for the Trojans as the only point they would get was a free throw by Tessa Shipley.

In the third period Clubb notched a bucket and a free throw and Kirkpatrick and Taylor Bair each scored, but they still lost ground as the Bears scored nine points to take an 18-13 lead heading into the final stanza.

In the fourth quarter, a rebound put back by Tilly Schmidt gave the Bears a 25-17 lead with 3:37 left in the game. The Trojans would make one last gasp. Baskets by Clubb and Bair cut the lead to four with 40 seconds left, but the Bears would use two free throws by Schmidt and one by Sam Valentine to slam the door on the Trojans.

Clubb led the Trojans with eight points, five rebounds and five steals while Kirkpatrick added six points and Bair had four points. Emily Warwick led the Bears with nine points and Schmidt checked in with six points.

Trojan coach Shawn Welsh felt that his team struggled with all parts of the game.

“We couldn’t handle the ball,” Welsh said. “We had problems passing, shooting and rebounding. We did not get a rebound in the second quarter.”

The Trojans are now 2-5 and will visit Keota Friday night.

English Valleys 28, Tri-County 21

EV 5 4 9 10 — 28

T-C 4 2 7 8 — 21

TRI-COUNTY (21) — Katie Clubb 8, Brittany Kirkpatrick 6, Taylor Bair 4, Gloria Steinke 2, Tessa Shipley 1. Totals 9 3-9 21.

Rebounds — 27 (Steinke 6). Assist — 1 (Clubb). Steals — 9 (Clubb 5). Blocks — 4. Total fouls — 18. Turnovers — 16.