The Eagles turned in an impressive first half, consistently beating the Shoes down the floor and getting some wide open looks. They shot 63 percent from the floor and owned a 37-32 lead at intermission.

But things changed immediately in the second half. After the two teams traded baskets in the opening minute, the home team clamped down and took over.

James Niebrugge converted an Eagle turnover into a bucket and then scored again on the team’s next possession. Caleb Siemer converted another Newton miscue into a basket and Brendan Niebrugge added another, capping an 8-0 run that put the Shoes on top to stay, 42-39.

But that was just the beginning of the second half blitz. After Dylan Gier scored for Newton, Siemer hit another jumper to start a 10-0 scoring run. Joey Niebrugge added a basket and Garrett Gaddis and Brendan Niebrugge hit back-to-back threes to extend T-Town’s lead to double digits, 52-41.

It was a 12-point bulge, 55-43, heading into the final eight minutes.

If the Eagles entertained any ideas of a comeback, the Shoes laid those ideas to rest quickly. James Niebrugge knocked down a pair of free throws and then drained a three-pointer from the top of the key to ignite a 10-2 scoring surge. Brendan Niebrugge also had a paid of buckets during that stretch, helping THS stretch the margin to 20 points, 65-45, with 2½ minutes left in the game.

“Those last 16 minutes were as good as we’ve played all season,” Reeder said. “We started taking it personal when they scored. We started smothering them on defense.

“Every game we’ve lost this year, we’ve lost our aggressiveness for stretches of those games,” Reeder added. “That’s why we’ve been inconsistent at times. We need to stay aggressive. You see what difference it made tonight. Now we’ll see if that carries over.”

It was a different story in the first half. With Caden Nichols scoring 18 points, the Eagles had no difficulty scoring. Nichols had nine points and Parker Wolf had seven, as Newton build a 22-17 lead. James Niebrugge had two free throws and Brendan Niebrugge connected on his third shot from long range, forging a 22-22 tie.

Nichols scored nine more points in the second period, including the final five, sending the Eagles to the locker room with a 37-32 advantage. The Eagles connected on 17-of-27 shots in the first two quarters.

Things weren’t so easy in the second half. Newton made just 6-of-23 attempts in the final two periods and Nichols was limited to only two points.

“That second half was really big for us,” Reeder said. “Hopefully, it gave us a little confidence. When you’re slumping a little and not playing your best, getting that next win can be hard. Plus, Newton has been playing very well. They just won their conference tournament.”

Brendan Niebrugge had a big game for the Shoes, finishing with a game-high 28 points. James Niebrugge was also in double figures with 15 points, while Siemer and Gaddis both added nine. The Shoes, who made 15-of-19 shots in the second half, a torrid 79 percent clip, and finished 53 percent overall. They made 26-of-49 attempts. They were 8-for-21 from three-point range and 9-for-12 from the line.

THS snapped its three-game losing skid and improved to 17-7 on the season. The Shoes will play at home again Friday, welcoming their cross-creek rival St. Anthony.

“You know those games will always be close, intense and emotional,” Reeder said. “I think the coaching job Cody (Rincker) has done the last couple years has been outstanding. You know his team will be ready to play. You know it will be a tough game. And you know it will be a great atmosphere.”