ELDRED — Friday night featured a marquee matchup between two Class D schools both looking for their first division win. For Eldred 1-9 (0-3), losing their starting center for the season in last week’s loss to Livingston Manor proved to be too much as Tuxedo 1-5 (1-3) was able to earn a 52-37 victory.

Throughout the first half, defense was the deciding factor for both sides. Neither team could get comfortable looks at the basket and the score remained low. Tuxedo scored the first basket of the night, a layup that was quickly answered by a deep 2-pointer by Eldred. The scoring came at a premium throughout, with Eldred mustering just a 7-6 lead by the end of the first.

There were a few times throughout the first half where the Yellowjackets extended their lead to five points, but the Tornadoes were quick to answer and stay within striking distance, ultimately overcoming the Eldred lead and taking a 20-18 advantage into halftime.

While Eldred retired to the locker room during the break, Tuxedo remained on the sidelines, making their adjustments and soaking up the break in the action in front of the fans.

The break proved to be just what Tuxedo needed, as the team more than doubled their score in the third quarter. Shots began to fall, second-chance opportunities allowed for additional looks at the basket, and it proved to be too much for Eldred to handle without their starting center.

After being out-shot and out-rebounded, the Yellowjackets entered the fourth quarter trailing 41-27, hoping to swing the momentum in their favor over the final eight minutes.

Early in the quarter, it seemed that they might be able to as they scored the first four points in the final frame and cut the lead down to 10 points. Once Tuxedo was able to get rolling, though, things got a bit tougher for the Yellowjackets, and the two squads entrenched into one final back-and-forth quarter that led to the Tornadoes prevailing 52-37.

“Frustration set in without our big guy,” Eldred Coach Bill Furler said. “They shut Trai down and out-rebounded us. Kudos to Tuxedo for the way they played and earned the win tonight.”

Now sitting at 0-3 in the division, Eldred would need to prevail in each of their remaining division games to qualify for Sectionals, but after losing a key player in the middle of the season for the second year in a row, it will be a tall task for the young squad.