WARDSVILLE, Mo. - After losing by 25 points against Hallsville on Friday, Blair Oaks needed to adjust its game plan.
The Falcons played zone defense and the Indians dug themselves in a hole they couldn't get out of with their off 3-point shooting.
"We knew we had to try to do something to try to disrupt their flow," Blair Oaks coach Ryan Fick said following a 73-51 win Tuesday night against the fourth-ranked team in Class 3. "As the game went on they did a better job at finding shooters."
But by the time the Indians got their shots to fall, it was too late.
Ethan Thompson, who scored a team-high 20 points for Hallsville, had both of his 3-point baskets in the fourth quarter. The first cut the Hallsville deficit to 50-35 early in the fourth quarter and the second made it 58-42 with 5:22 left.
What kept Blair Oaks' lead growing was free throws.
The Indians fouled the Falcons for much of the fourth quarter and not many of the free throws were off the mark.
Blair Oaks (10-3) was 18-of-20 at the line in the final eight minutes and 27-of-31 for the game. That free-throw shooting helped hand Hallsville (13-1) its first loss of the season.
"I was really happy with our free throw shooting at the end of the game," Fick said. "We've been inconsistent in that area."
The long-range shots fell early for Blair Oaks.
Trent Martin, who shot 5-of-8 from deep to score a game-high 21 points, gave the Falcons a 6-2 lead with a pair of 3s.
Nolan Hair added a 3 late in the first quarter for a 15-4 lead.
Hallsville, which made 4-of-20 from 3-point range, knocked down a 3 to make it 15-7 after one quarter of play.
Blair Oaks led 32-16 by halftime and 48-32 after three quarters.
On Friday in the Tri-County Conference championship game, Hallsville defeated Blair Oaks 65-40.
"It's a difficult team to game plan for because they are so talented offensively," Fick said. "You have to hope to slow them down a little bit and you've got to hope they don't shoot as well.
"They shot unbelievably Friday night and we were hoping going in they wouldn't shoot that way. I'd like to think our defense had something to do with it. I was proud of our guys because we executed our game plan. Even in our zone, we did a good job at getting to the shooters and contesting pretty much every shot."
Blair Oaks made 20-of-37 and combined for six turnovers in the first, second and fourth quarters.
"We were patient offensively for the most part, which was another huge thing for us," Fick said. "Get the looks that we are capable of making."
Dru Rackers was effective inside and at the free-throw line on his way to 15 points.
Eric Northweather was 5-of-6 from the field for 12 points. Tim Fick made all eight of his free throws and scored 10 points.
Blair Oaks will play Friday at Versailles.
Blair Oaks won Tuesday's JV game 43-32.
Cameron Hardwick led Blair Oaks (8-1) with 18 points and Jacob Rademan added 12 points.
The Blair Oaks freshman team won 53-45.
Tristan Heislen led Blair Oaks (6-2) with 19 points, while Carson Bax scored 10.