FRANKLIN FURNACE — The Green Bobcats faced adversity Wednesday night and didn’t look the other way.

Despite struggling with their shooting most of the game, the Bobcats battled past the New Boston Tigers 53-40 in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

The Bobcats missed their first 10 3-point goal attempts and converted just 10 of 24 free throws. Still, they managed to persevere.

“Tonight was not a good shooting night, but we continued to grind it out,” said Green coach Bobby Blanton. “New Boston is a dangerous team, but our kids kept battling. It had a lot to do with us running the floor and our rotation. It’s working for us.”

Matt Ratcliff had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead Green (7-4, 6-2). Nate Pinkerton added 14 points and 6 rebounds. Trenton Otworth had 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

Steven Russell scored 16 for New Boston.

Zane Poe scored 4 points in the first quarter but Green trailed 11-10. The Bobcats had only 7 points in the second quarter and trailed 22-17 at the half.

But everything changed in the third quarter.

Ratcliff had 8 points as Green scored 24 and the defense kicked in as New Boston scored just 8.

Russell was held to just 4 points in the second half.

“Our defensive strategies worked tonight,” said Blanton.

Green outscored New Boston 12-10 in the fourth quarter to clinch the win.

New Boston 11 11 8 10 = 40

Green 10 7 24 12 = 53

NEW BOSTON (NA): Shane Buckley 1 1 0-1 5, Tyler Messer 1 0 1-1 3, Steven Russell 7 0 2-2 16, Drew DeLotell 0 0 0-0 0, Chase Horsley 4 0 1-2 9, Eric Voiers 0 0 1-3 1, Nate Henson 0 0 1-2 1, Trey Branham 1 1 0-0 5. Totals: 14 2 6-11 40. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

GREEN (7-4, 6-2): Trenton Otworth 1 0 0-0 2, Tyler Hughes 0 1 1-2 4, Pat Pierce 2 0 0-0 4, Matt Ratcliff 7 0 4-4 18, Nate Pinkerton 5 0 4-13 14, Chad Lewis 0 0 1-2 1, Dustin Stapleton 1 0 0-1 2, Zane Poe 4 0 0-2 8. Totals: 20 1 10-24 53. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 41 (Ratcliff 10, Otworth 6, Pinkerton 6, Stapleton 5). Assists: 5 (Otworth 4). Steals: 9 (Hughes 3, Pierce 2, Otworth 2, Ratcliff 2). Blocked shots: 5 (Ratcliff 2). Turnovers: 11.