RANDOLPH COUNTY, INDIANA — Kaleb Deardorff scored 17 points and recorded 17 rebounds as the National Trail Blazers led the majority of the game in route to the team’s second win of the season— 45-37 — over Randolph Southern on Wednesday, Dec. 30.

The Blazers took an early lead at 19-13 after the first quarter and managed to hold on to a four-point halftime lead with a score of 24-20.

As Randolph Southern continued to trim into the Blazers’ lead at the start of the second half, National Trail head coach Mike Harrison subbed in Dylan Haas early in the quarter.

Hass’ substitution turned out to be a key moment for the road team, as he scored five points during a key 16-3 run that included an Adam Eyler three, according to Harrison.

The run put the Blazers up 42-26 midway through the fourth quarter, and the Blazers managed to hold onto the team’s second win of the season over a team from Indiana.

The Blazers only allowed eight points through the first 15 minutes of the second half, as the run sparked by Haas’ substitution allowed the team to pull away for good.

The Blazers out-rebounded Randolph Southern, 38-21, including 16 offensive rebounds, the biggest key to the game according to the veteran coach.

The Blazers only turned the ball over six times outside of the second quarter. “We took excellent care of the ball,” Harrison said, adding, “We did a great job getting extra shots on the offensive glass.”

One key was Deardorff whose effort and energy on the glass gave the Blazers easy looks throughout the game Harrison said afterwards.

Peyton Harrison also played a strong game for the Blazers, adding 10 points and dishing out six assists.

The Blazers improve to 2-7 on the season and face Covington for a return to Cross County Conference play on Friday, Jan. 8.