Defense, as they say, wins championships, in basketball and most sports.

So, for fans who flocked to Noxon this past Saturday night to see the high-scoring Noxon Red Devils clash with the unbeaten St. Regis Tigers, defense won the day. 

The St. Regis boys, who came to Noxon with an 11-0 overall mark, ran into the Red Devils, who have averaged just under 80 points a game this season in compiling a 7-1 record. 

They were the number one and two teams in the Western 13C conference, with Noxon tied for second with Lincoln, who also has one loss on the season. 

In the end, St. Regis trademark swarming defense wore down the Red Devils and allowed the Tigers to take a come-from-behind 59-52 road win over Noxon, keeping their unblemished record intact. 

In the girls' game, defense was also on display as the Lady Tigers swamped the host Lady Devels enroute to a 42-18 win. 

The outcome of the boys' game was in doubt until the Tigers were able to pull ahead of the host Devils and hang on for another tight win in their Tachycardia schedule. 

At the conclusion of the first quarter, the two teams were deadlocked at 13-13.  St. Regis sophomore guard Conner Lulis scored eight first quarter points, while Shane Hatchel had four to lead Noxon. 

Noxon took the lead in the second quarter and by halftime was up 28-25.  In the third quarter, St. Regis overcame that slim lead and tied the score at 34-34 with 2:42 left in the quarter. 

But Noxon, behind the inside play of 6-4 senior forward Shane Murray, kept things close, leaving St. Regis clinging to a one-point, 37-36 lead at the end of three hectic quarters of play. 

Murray fueled a 16-point Noxon fourth quarter, but Lulis and senior Hunter Stola each scored six for the Tigers, who tallied 22 in the final quarter then held on to the ball for most of the last minute of the game to walk away with the crucial conference victory. 

Murray finished as the game’s leading scorer with 21 points on ten two-point buckets, exclusively from inside the paint, where he was dominant most of the night. 

Lulis, the floor general of the Tigers, led St. Regis with 18 points, while Stolla pitched in 13 and junior Barrett Bessette added eight points after being sidelined for several games with an injury.  Senior forward Kaden Sanders, who battled Murray inside most of the night, had nine for the Tigers, as did senior guard Ayden Rael, a high energy defender who can also score. 

“We had an exceptional fourth quarter,” said St. Regis head coach Jesse Allan. “Noxon showed they are much improved this season, and they are going to be tough down the stretch” 

Allan also lauded the return of Bessette in time to face the taller Noxon lineup. 

“I’m proud of our kids for finding a way and really playing well together for the second half,” Allan said. “Thankful to get Bessette back in time, cannot say enough about what this young man means for our team when he’s healthy, rebounding and defending other teams’ big guys”. 

The St. Regis girls had an easier time in their win over the Noxon Lady Devils, building a 15-6 lead in the first quarter, thanks in part to the return of their senior guard and floor leader Shylah Dalka who like Bessette was nursing a season of bumps and bruises and sat out a few recent games to heal. 

Both teams scored five points in the second quarter, giving St. Regis a 20-11 halftime lead. 

In the third quarter St. Regis’ girls cranked up their defense, holding Noxon to just two points while scoring 11 of their own.  That gave them a 31-13 lead heading into the final quarter. 

They continued their defensive pressure the rest of the way, holding Noxon to five fourth quarter points and scoring 11 for their total and preserving the 24-point margin of victory. 

The Tigers improved their season mark to 6-6 with their fifth win in their last six games after a rocky start to the season.  The Lady Tigers are 3-5 in conference play. 

Next up for St. Regis boys and girls is a home game versus Valley Christian this Friday (Jan 31), followed by a road trip to Drummond. 

    Noxon forward Ricky Williams goes over two St. Regis defenders on his way to the basket Saturday night in Noxon. (Tracy Scott, Valley Press)
  

    St. Regis guard Shelby Simkins dribble around a Noxon defender during their game Saturday night in Noxon. (Tracy Scott, Valley Press)
  

    Noxon senior Seanna Richter goes after a loose ball during the Lady Devils game with St. Regis this past Saturday in Noxon. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)