Lisbon’s Ashton Hinchliffe blocks East Palestine’s Michael Chestnut. (Photos by Ron Firth)

LISBON — Lisbon took a 10-0 lead before East Palestine got off a shot Friday.

The Blue Devils forced eight turnovers in the first quarter and never trailed in a 78-67 win in Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference play.

Lisbon improves to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the EOAC heading into Tuesday’s game at league-leading Columbiana.

East Palestine drops to 0-4 overall and in league play.

Aidan Ramgeet and Logan Sturgeon had career highs for the Blue Devils with 23 and 17 points, respectively. Sturgeon also had seven rebounds and three steals.

AJ Ramgeet added 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists and Blaine Barnes had 13 points and four steals. Aidan Myers grabbed 10 rebounds and Ashton Hinchliffe eight.

RJ May topped East Palestine with 23 of his game-high 27 points in the second half and three rebounds. Kealin Simon collected 13 points, Drew Byrcroft 11 points and 10 rebounds and Clark Rutledge four rebounds and three assists.

The Bulldogs had five turnovers before Bycroft hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 10-3 with 5:33 left in the first quarter.

East Palestine had nine turnovers in the opening 9 1/2 minutes and fell behind 25-10 on a three-pointer by Lisbon’s Mason Jones.

Lisbon led by as many as 16 points at 28-12 on a Barnes three-pointer and settled for a 40-27 halftime lead as Aidan Ramgeet hit a pair of free throws with no time remaining.

East Palestine rallied in the third quarter to force the only tie at 52-52. Lisbon’s Logan Sturgeon ended the first half with a layup to give the Blue Devils the lead for good at 54-52.

Lisbon also won the junior varsity game, 66-50, as Cooper Terdina scored 22 points and Mason Jones 20. East Palestine got 17 points from Caleb Dmyterko and 15 from Kealin Simon.

East Palestine will play at Oak Glen on Saturday night.

EP: 7-20-25-15–67

L: 20-20-14-24–78

EAST PALESTINE SCORING: RJ May 12-2-27, Brad Bartels 0-1-1, Drew Bycroft 4-2-11, Peyton Rutledge 2-0-4, Clark Rutledge 2-2-6, Braydon Plum 2-0-5, Michael Chestnut 0-0-0, Kealin Simon 4-3-13. TEAM TOTALS: 26-64, 5-19: 67.

LISBON SCORING: Aidan Ramgeet 8-4-23, Blaine Barnes 3-4-11, Aiden Myers 4-1-9, Ashton Hinchliffe 1-0-2, AJ Ramgeet 6-1-13, Logan Sturgeon 8-1-17, Mason Jones 1-0-3, Paxton Henthorne 0-0-0. TEAM TOTALS: 31, 6-22: 78.

Three-point goals: East Palestine 5 (Simon 2, May, Bycroft, Plum), Lisbon 6-19 (Aidan Ramgeet3, Barnes 2, Jones).