SCIOTOVILLE — Change can be good. It was for the Green Bobcats.

Coach Dave Hopper said a different approach helped his team beat the Portsmouth East Tartans 57-55 Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“We really showed some great intensity in practice. Our attitude really changed. We played hard, and when you play hard you do the little things,” Hopper said.

Nathan Patten led Green (6-8, 4-5) with 20 points. Ian Kelley had 17 points and 8 rebounds while Randy Ratcliff got 12 points 10 rebounds.

Kelley scored 11 points in the first quarter to get Green off to a good start as they took a 17-10 lead.

East shaved a point off the lead in the second quarter but Patten had 8 points and Green was up 34-28 at the break.

The Bobcats were up 45-37 after three quarter and built an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter as Patten scored 7 more points. East began to rally but the Bobcats were able to hold on for the win.

“The kids did a good job under pressure on the road in a tough place to play,” Hopper said. “The kids are talking to each other and they’re starting to come together. I’m starting to see a difference.”

Green shot 22 of 43 from the field for 51 percent.

Green17171112=57

Ports East1018918=55

GREEN (6-8, 4-5): Chris Willard 2 0 0-1 4, Nathan Patten 5 3 1-2 20, Randy Ratcliff 4 0 4-8 12, Ian Kelley 7 0 3-7 17, Corey Dyer 1 0 2-2 4, Wes Bailey 0 0 0-0 0, Austin Pollard 0 0 0-0 0, Brock Russell 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-43 10-20

57. 3-point goals: 3-12. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 12-14=26 (Ratcliff 10, Kelley 8, Willard 5). Assists: 10 (Willard 6). Steals: 11 (Patten 3, Kelley 3). Turnovers: 20.

PORTSMOUTH EAST (NA): Messer 0 0 0-0 0, Wiliams 2 0 2-2 6, Jonathan Garrett 0 0 0-0 0, Sparks 0 0 0-0 0, C. Mault 1 0 0-0 2, T. Mault 3 2 2-2 14, Dickerson 5 1 0-0 13, Collins 1 1 1-2 6, Jordan Garrett 0 0 0-0 0, Jones 2 0 0-0 4, Luther 3 0 1-4 7, Hood 0 0 0-0 0, Collins 1 0 1-2 3. Totals: 18

4

7-12

55. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.