A late rally by the Heyworth Hornets fell short as Egan Franzen and Ethan Willoughby paced Maroa-Forsyth over Heyworth 69-61 Monday night in non-conference boy's basketball action from Heyworth. It was the season open for the Trojans.

Six-foot-seven center Nick Feather and Franzen jumpstarted each team to a big start, as the Trojans led 22-16 after one. Franzen started with ten in the first frame and Feather scored eight.

The two weren't done dueling; Franzen added seven more in the second quarter but Feather could only carry the Hornets so far scoring seven Heyworth's nine second quarter points and the Trojans stayed hot and pulled out to a 39-25 advantage at the intermission. 

Trailing by 21 at one point in the third quarter, Alex Maas scored ten of his 12 points in the third quarter, Feather added nine more pulling Heyworth within 54-45 after three. 

Willoughby helped Maroa-Forsyth put the game away going 4-for-9 from the foul line down the stretch.

Feather finished with a game-high 31 points. Braden Denning scored eight for the Hornets.

Franzen led the Trojans with 24 points while Willoughby finished with 19. 

The Trojans are 1-0 and will play at Clinton Friday night. It'll be a Homecoming for Maroa-Forsyth coach Aaron Ennis who is an alumn of Clinton High School and was a three-sport standout for the Maroons.

Boy's basketball scores from Tuesday:

Clinton 47

Olympia 46

Williamsville 39

Litchfield 36

Lanphier 62

Rochester 35

Pana 81

Central A & M 40

Athens 58

Havana 42

 Washington 49

East Peoria 41

Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond 63

La Salette Academy 34

St. Joseph-Ogden 78

Cissna Park 55

Prairie Central 75

Dwight 51

Paxton-Buckley-Loda 50

Hoopeston 41