After losing a double-overtime heartbreaker in the semifinals the night before, Wayne bounced back with a solid second-half effort to beat Pierce 61-47 for the third-place trophy in the Mid State Conference tournament Saturday at Northeast Community College in Norfolk.
Both teams played a lackluster first half, with the Bluejays leading 19-18 at intermission. Wayne came out strong in the second half, however, riding the hot hand of junior Jack Evetovich and seniors Payten Gamble and Grayson McBride to victory.
Evetovich opened the second half with a 3-pointer to put Wayne ahead to stay. After Pierce pulled within two at 27-25, Wayne went on an 8-2 run, thanks to a 3-pointer and basket by Gamble and a trey by Evetovich, to take a 35-27 lead.
Pierce got within four early in the fourth quarter, but a basket by Evetovich and a three-point play by Mason Lee built the lead back to nine points and Pierce never got closer than seven points after that as the Blue Devils raised their record to 14-5.
Evetovich scored a game-high 20 points in the win while McBride and Gamble each had 13. Lee had seven, Beau Bowers scored four and Tyler Pecena and Tyler Gilliland each had two.
Wayne is back in action Friday with a road game at Arlington.
