TORONTO — One big run made the difference.

The Toronto boys’ basketball team ripped off a big run beginning in the second quarter through the third to break open a close game against Jefferson County foe Indian Creek as the Red Knights went on to defeat the Redskins, 48-30, Saturday afternoon inside the George J. Kunzler Memorial Gymnasium.

“In the first half, we came out a little sluggish,” Toronto (2-0) head coach Sean Tucker said. “A big part of that is because we have been off for a long time. Our first game was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. That was our last game before today. We had a long break.

“You try to do everything you possibly can to keep the kids energized at practice. We are dealing with injuries. You start playing the way you want to play, and then you develop another injury. It makes you scared. You think about what you are doing.

“In the first half, we were able to see our mistakes, so we were able to make good adjustments at halftime. We were able to put ourselves in a good position to win the game.”

The Redskins scored just nine total points in the second and third quarters after leading by three (10-7) at the end of the first.

“We were not able to score for a stretch,” Indian Creek (0-3) head coach Joe Dunlevy said. “It was not because of a lack of effort. we have things we have to work on, and we will work on them.

“So far, we have faced Nate (Moses), Zach (Delman) and Sean. They are all great guys. They all do a great job every year. You know you are in for a battle when you play them.”

The boys from the Gem City outscored the visitors, 33-9, in the middle two quarters to build a 40-19 lead heading into the fourth.

“We have had years like this where we have begun 0-3, but we kept battling,” Dunlevy said. “We haven’t been knocked out of the playoffs. We’re just 0-3.”

The Red Knights outscored the Redskins, 8-4, in the second to take a 15-14 lead into the locker room at halftime. Toronto then erupted for 25 points in the third while limiting the Red-and-Gold to just five points.

Indian creek outscored Toronto, 11-8, in the fourth to account for the final score.

Offensively for Toronto, Brody Winters tallied a team-high 12 points, Colt Joynson collected 10 and Landon Grimes and Brady Fair each delivered nine.

For Indian Creek, Caden Saffle finished with a team-high 10 points, while Nishon White netted eight.

The win gave the Red Knights their first home win of the season in their 100th year of boys’ basketball.

“We told the boys at the half coming out in the second half, that this is their legacy,” Tucker said. “You leave your legacy every time you step on the floor. You leave it game by game. Every game you represent your school. That has been the case the past 100 years.

“We told them you want to leave the court exhausted. Our motto this year is ’empty tank.’ You want to empty your tank. In the second half, we challenged the kids. We told them when they come off the floor they should be exhausted, and they did that. When we subbed them off the floor, they were exhausted.”

There is a lot of respect between the two coaches and the two programs. Tucker played for Dunlevy in high school at Indian Creek.

“Absolutely, there is a lot of respect between us,” Tucker said. “This is a very meaningful game. It has been meaningful for years. It is one game where my mom always told me to make sure I was good with Coach D. He has always been a father figure to me. He has always been there for me in times of need. There is a great amount of respect between the programs and the kids in the programs.”

The game was originally scheduled to be played Tuesday, but it was canceled due to the inclement weather in the area.

Indian Creek is scheduled to play Jefferson County and Buckeye 8 opponent Buckeye Local this Tuesday night at home on Coach D Court.

“The kids are trying,” Dunlevy said. “We are just going to keep trying to get better.”

Toronto is slated to play Jefferson County rival Edison Friday night on the road out at the Edison Fieldhouse.

“We have another little break before we play Edison out there,” Tucker said. “We will get to see them one more time. We have already seen them twice. They are senior heavy. They are a very good team. They are physical. They are a veteran team. Nate is back as their coach. He does a great job. His kids play really hard for him.”

Toronto 48, Indian Creek 30

Indian Creek 10 4 5 11 – 30

Toronto 7 8 25 8 – 48

INDIAN CREEK (0-3): Mazar 1 0-0 2, Nickell 0 0-0 0, McGrew 2 1-2 5, Vick 0 0-0 0, Sims 1 0-0 2, Pietro 0 0-0 0, Lyons 1 0-2 3, Saffle 4 0-0 10, Haines 0 0-0 0, White 3 2-2 8. TOTALS: 12 3-6 30.

TORONTO (2-0): Anderson 0 0-0 0, Grimes 3 0-0 9, Joynson 4 2-2 10, Bodnar 0 0-2 0, Winters 5 1-1 12, Buchanan 0 0-0 0, Fair 4 0-0 9, Gibson 0 0-0 0, Henry 3 0-1 6, Rebich 1 0-0 2, Barcus 0 0-0 0, Liddick 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 20 3-6 48.

3-POINTERS: Indian Creek 3 (Saffle 2, Lyons); Toronto 5 (Grimes 3, Winters, Fair)