LEAD - In a matchup of two of the teams picked to battle for the Black Hills Conference title, St. Thomas More maintained its unbeaten record, claiming a 61-46 win over Lead-Deadwood in the LDHS Gymnasium on Thursday evening.

A trio of Cavaliers tallied double-digit scoring. Nate Jacobson drained 24 points, while Jeremy Kudrna and Stevie Statz added 10 each.

Tanner Adler topped Lead-Deadwood with a game-high 26 points. Kenny Miller connected for 14 points.

The first half featured three scoring spurts, two by the Cavs and one by the 'Diggers. Led by four points from Kudrna and Jacobson's trey, More raced to a 9-2 edge midway through the initial quarter. Lead-Deadwood countered with the final seven points of the quarter, knotting the score at 9-9 at the quarter stop.

Miller dialed long distance from three-point range and Adler hit a two-pointer, handing Lead-Deadwood a 14-9 advantage.

"They (Diggers) are so explosive," said Cavaliers coach Dave Hollenbeck.

"They can make a run on you at any time."

More answered with a 19-5 scoring outburst for the rest of the quarter.

The Cavs owned a 28-19 halftime advantage.

The two-time defending Class A champions extended their lead to 11 points (35-24) in the third stanza.

Sparked by back-to-back trifectas by Miller and Mack, the 'Diggers deadlocked the contest at 40-40 with 6:50 left in the game. After Kudrna and Adler exchanged two-pointers, More took the lead for good on a drive to the hoop and ensuing basket by Jacobson. Cash Kinghorn made his only basket of the game a big one, and Zach Cimburek's field goal presented More with a 48-42 edge.

Lead-Deadwood fought back to within 48-44 on Adler's three-point play. However, senior guard Tanner Wince responded by sinking a three-pointer.

The Cavs, holding a 51-46 lead, rang off the final 10 points of the game.

"We came in knowing Adler is an extremely good ballplayer," said Hollenbeck. "We tried to do our best to contain him. They have other guys that can shoot from the perimeter. It's basically pick your poison.

"They are a very good team. They're well coached.

"I was happy with the way our guys played. I was happy with our block out. Nate Jacobson really stepped up. He is a good floor leader. Zach Cimburek did a good job defensively. Jeremy Kudrna also did a good job."

"We wanted to stop their outside game," said Lead-Deadwood coach Curt Shaw. "We wanted to stop their fastbreak. We left too many open people.

"I don't think we shot the ball well in the second half. They did a good job defensively of taking us out of our offense. We need to be mentally tougher."

In spite of the setback, Shaw added, "Now we know we can play with them."

Lead-Deadwood, 1-1 in the BHC and 3-2 overall, continues its tough schedule of games in December, meeting Red Cloud in the first game of the Perkins Classic at the Young Center at 5 p.m. on December 27.