NEWPORT NEWS - Despite a slow start offensive, The Apprentice School men's basketball team's defense turned up the heat in the second half to take down Blue Lights, 80-73, Tuesday night.

After a back-and-forth first half that ended in a 32-32 tie, the Builders opened the second half on a 7-1 run to snatch the lead. The Thoroughbreds would tie the game at 39-39 before Apprentice went on another 9-0 run to retake the lead.

Blue Lights did not go quietly, again getting the game to a tie at 52-52, but the Builders answered with a 6-0 stretch and eventually extended the lead to 10 points. BLC pulled the game back to a three-point margin, but Apprentice again hit their stride, stretching the lead to as many as nine down the final few minutes on the way to the season-opening win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Builders won their fourth straight season opener.
- Apprentice is now 1-0 in the New South Athletic Conference as well.
- Adrion Wall finished with a game-high 21 points off the bench. Four other Builders ended in double figures with Clifton Goode scoring 13, Jayden Eason and Karree Smith adding 12 and Shawn Eley notching 10.

NEXT UP
The Builders will hit the road Thursday to take on Shenandoah.