South Tama junior Daniel Wiese (5) celebrates with teammates following the Trojans’ 63-58 overtime victory over East Marshall in Monday’s non-conference boys basketball game in Tama. Wiese scored 14 points for the Trojans, who earned their first win of the season. Photo by Noah Rohlfing.

TAMA — With both teams struggling to put wins together, battling illness, and looking for some form of positive momentum entering the winter break, the boys’ basketball game between South Tama County and East Marshall had the potential to deliver excitement.

It certainly delivered — and South Tama picked up its first win of the season in the process, outlasting East Marshall 63-58 in overtime Monday night. The Trojans are 1-5.

Without starter Ivan Alvarado, who was out with illness, the Trojans only used seven players — with much of the minutes load getting put on the five who started the game. Kingston Davenport put together the best first half of anyone on the floor with nine points and helped the Trojans build a 27-17 lead late in the first half. A 5-0 run from the Mustangs, including a buzzer-beater from Carter Anderson to end the first half, put the score at 27-22 at the halftime interval.

Davenport finished with 16 points, and STC head coach Dustin Peska was pleased with the confidence this performance should give the freshman.

“Kingston, he stepped up his level to a whole new game,” Peska said. “He was aggressive and he was flying to the rim. Now his confidence is going to be a whole new level.”

The third quarter quickly became a back-and-forth, with East Marshall starting the quarter on a 13-2 run on the back of a solid performance from Landen Neuroth. Neuroth had 21 points and put together his best-scoring night of the season to this point. With leading scorer Junior Brown recovering from being under the weather before the game (he still scored 16 points), Neuroth took a leading role in the second half.

But the offense isn’t what has bothered Mustangs head coach Adam Bauder — it’s been defensive breakdowns that have contributed to a 1-6 start to the year.

“We did some good stuff at times but still couldn’t contain the guy with the ball,” Bauder said. “We’re working on it, trying hard. I don’t know what it is. We help pretty well at times.”

Cade Rosenberger and Daniel Wiese were able to drive into the lane with consistency and get shots up, as was Davenport. It was a key part of the Trojans coming back from a five-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to tie it up with seven seconds left in regulation, thanks to two free throws from big man Jeramy Dolash.

In the extra four minutes, all East Marshall got on offense was a Brown three. The shots dried up as South Tama took the lead and then put the game to bed at the free-throw line. Rosenberger had 21 points and hit seven freebies in the second half and overtime. Wiese finished with 14 points.

Peska could barely contain his pride in the Trojan players.

“I couldn’t be prouder of them tonight,” Peska said. “Being down one of our better starters, a right before [the] game-time decision, and for our kids to just stick together and buy into what we do and not pouting around, is just something great to see.”

After the win, the Trojans faced Vinton-Shellsburg on the road Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. in a final test before the winter break. East Marshall is scheduled to play Thursday against BCLUW at home.