TOLEDO — Hardin Northern took control early and never looked back as the Lady Polar Bears cruised past Monclova Christian 63-8 on Friday, The Polar Bears cruised to a 27-4 lead after eight minutes and a 38-5 lead by halftime before outscoring the Thunder 18-0 in the third quarter.

Vandalia Butler took a double-digit lead by halftime and it proved to be enough as the Aviators went on to a 53-40 victory over Ben Logan in non-league girls basketball action on Thursday night.

MOUNT VICTORY — Lincolnview pulled away from Ridgemont in the second half on the way to a 54-46 victory over the Gophers in a non-league girls basketball game on Thursday night. Ridgemont kept the game close throughout the first half as it led 17-16 midway through the second quarter on a basket by Faith Jenkins.

Defiance outscored Kenton in each of the first three quarters to grab an insurmountable lead on the way to a 60-48 victory over the Wildcats in a Western Buckeye League girls basketball game on Thursday night. The visiting Bulldogs led just 13-12 after one quarter before outscoring Kenton 19-11 in the second quarter and 19-9 in the third quarter to take a 51-32 advantage into the final eight minutes.

LIMA — Lima Central Catholic built an early lead and was able to cruise from there on the way to a 63-20 victory over Ada in non-league girls basketball play on Thursday. The host Thunderbirds jumped ahead 15-4 eight minutes into the game and led 31-8 by halftime before outscoring the Bulldogs 32-12 in the second half.

BLUFFTON — Bluffton outscored Upper Scioto Valley in all four quarters, including by 15 points in the first eight minutes, to run away with a 74-31 victory in a non-league girls basketball game on Thursday night. The Rams, who fall to 1-8, trailed 23-8 after one quarter and 37-15 by halftime.

MOUNT BLANCHARD — North Baltimore pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 55-48 Blanchard Valley Conference girls basketball victory over Riverdale on Thursday. The Tigers led 17-9 after eight minutes before Riverdale closed within 26-25 by halftime.

The Kenton Middle School eight grade boys basketball team defeated Bath 52-33 on Thursday. Colby Quay had 16 points to lead Kenton, while Kooper Johnston added 15 points and Tyson Lawrence chipped in with 11.

After a relatively light slate of games the past two weeks, area high school boys basketball teams come out of their holiday slumber with a full slate this weekend. There are just four games on Friday as Kenton (6-1) returns to action when its hosts Defiance in a Western Buckeye League contest. Both teams enter the contest looking for their first league win.

MANSFIELD — St. Peters outscored Riverdale by five points in the final eight minutes and that proved to be the difference as the Lions defeated the Falcons 44-39 in a non-league girls basketball game on Wednesday night. The game was tied 8-8 after one quarter and Riverdale led 20-18 at halftime before the hosts outscored the Falcons 13-11 in the third quarter and 13-8 in the final stanza to pull away for the win.