Times Observer photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower’s Gavin Lindemuth works for position against an Erie First Christian defender during Tuesday’s Region 3 boys basketball game in Russell.

RUSSELL — Erie First Christian Academy rallied from behind to beat the Eisenhower Knights 75-69 in Region 3 boys basketball Tuesday.

The Knights came out with the hot hand and built an eight-point lead on the Eagles. The first quarter ended with the Knights up 17-12.

The second quarter was back and forth with both teams trading baskets. The Knights were set to go into halftime with a three-point lead, but the Eagles’ Avery Collins hit a 3-pointer from deep in the corner to send both teams into the locker room knotted at 32.

Erie First Christian began the second half shooting well and built a nine-point lead as the third quarter ended.

The fourth quarter became an exciting one as the Knights’ Austin Hanson and the Eagles’ Avery Collins took over for their teams.

Eisenhower began to claw back into the game, cutting the lead to four with 2:37 remaining in the game. Hanson would have 13 points, including three 3-pointers in the final quarter, but it was Collins who did the most damage as he had 14 points including a perfect 6 of 6 from the free-throw line as the Knights were forced to foul.

“We had some positive things come from the game tonight,” Eisenhower head coach Ryan Mangini said. “I thought the guys executed their zone offense well and we did an excellent job hitting the offensive boards hard. We just gave up too many easy baskets in the second half and good teams will make you pay, and they did just that.”

The Knights were led by Hanson, who had 25 points, and teammate Gavin Lindemuth, who added 20. Collins led all scorers with 30 points.

Eisenhower is back in action Friday when it travels to Union City for a region game.

ERIE FIRST CHRISTIAN (75)

Titus 0 2 2, Tate 0 0 0, AvCollins 11 6 30, Gonzales 5 2 14, Phillips 4 0 8, Rupp 0 0 0, AdCollins 0 0 0, Ocasio 0 0 0, Blum 7 3 21. Totals 27 13 75.

EISENHOWER (69)

Hanson 9 4 25, Seymour 2 3 7, Lindemuth 9 1 20, Chase 1 0 2, Guiher 4 4 13, Mandeville 1 0 2. Totals 26 12 69.

3-point goals–AvCollins 2, Gonzales 2, Blum 4, Hanson 3, Lindemuth, Guiher.

Erie First Christian 12 20 25 18 — 75

Eisenhower 17 15 16 21 — 69