Warren East's Bryson Wallace (front) and Logan County's Ethan Smock (11) scramble for a loose ball Monday, November 27, 2017, during a game at Warren East High School. (Bac Totrong/photo@bgdailynews.com)

Overtime didn’t deter the Logan County boys’ basketball team, which avoided a late collapse in regulation before sprinting past Warren East 59-52 in overtime Monday at Warren East High School.

Logan County (1-0) let a nine-point fourth-quarter lead slip away before Tommy Krohn scored seven of the first nine points in overtime to help the Cougars beat the Raiders in the season opener for the third time in four years.

“We hadn’t been able to have a solid practice because the football team did so well this year and we got those players late,” Logan County coach Lonnie Mason said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game. Every time we play Warren East it is tough. I’m glad we got the W.”

After falling behind 4-0 early, Warren East (0-1) rallied to build a 14-8 lead late in the first quarter before the Cougars scored seven straight to regain a 15-14 advantage early in the second period.

The lead changed hands three times before Logan County closed the half with five straight points to take a 26-22 advantage into the locker room.

The Cougars continued to control the game, extending the lead to 42-33 after Cade McKinnis split a pair of free throws eight seconds into the fourth quarter.

Warren East scored seven straight – five from Tashaun Neal – to pull within two, but Neal missed a jumper that would have tied the score with 5:50 left.

Neal missed another jumper that would have tied the score with 3:51 remaining, but Warren East eventually pulled even 46-46 on a bucket by Brevon Whitney about 90 seconds later.

The teams traded buckets and then both split a pair of free throws to make the score 49-49 with 38.7 seconds left in regulation.

Both teams had multiple possessions with a chance to win in the final 30 seconds of regulation, but neither team was able to get a shot off, sending the game to overtime.

It was all Logan County from there, with Krohn setting the tone. The Cougars opened the extra session with a 9-0 run and were never threatened, with Krohn scoring seven points in overtime.

“He was big,” Mason said. “He came to me at the end of that fourth quarter and said, ‘Coach, if you need me, I am ready.’ All summer long he has been one of our best players. I knew, if the time came, that he would be there for us.”

Krohn finished with a game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds. Mykal Hampton also finished with a double-double, adding 10 points and 14 boards. Logan County outrebounded Warren East 44-33.

“It’s a win,” Krohn said. “We’ve got a long season (though) and we are just trying to get better.”

Neal led the Raiders with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Treante Patterson added 12 points.

“Logan is an experienced basketball team,” Warren East coach Brandon Combs said. “I was worried once we got into overtime with (Logan County) being the experienced team that they are. We are a work in progress. We are young, experience-wise. Logan County is very experienced and going to give themselves the opportunity to win (District 13) in my opinion. I told the guys after the game that we fought our tails off to get back in the game and gave ourselves a chance. We didn’t get the outcome we wanted, but we should grow up a little bit in terms of basketball.”

Logan County returns to action at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, hosting Edmonson County. Warren East will also host Edmonson County in its next game, facing the Wildcats at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

LCHS – 10 16 15 8 10 – 59

WEHS – 14 8 11 16 3 – 52

LC – Krohn 23, Rayno 11, Epley 11, Hampton 10, Smock 2, Furrow 1, McKinnis 1.

WE – Neal 15, Patterson 12, Barber 9, Whitney 8, Maxey 3, Wallace 3, Perdue 2.