BELL CITY -- Nick Niemczyk scored 35 points before fouling out as the Bell City Cubs held on for a 81-78 win over Clarkton in a clash of two state-ranked Class 1 teams

Bell City opened up a 16-point lead at the half (42-26), but Clarkton stormed back in the second half to make it a game, before coming up just short in a bid to upset the third-ranked Cubs at home.

Phillips Gross added 19 points in the win while Austin Bush knocked down three 3-pointers for all of his nine points. Niemczyk netted five treys.

Clarkton, ranked No. 7 in Class 1, had five players in double figures. Devaris Parker's 18 points led the Reindeer, while Dustin Ferguson added 15, Justin Brown dropped in 14, DeAngelo White scored 12 and Casey Redden netted 10.

Bell City improved to 20-2 on the season while Clarkton slipped to a14-4 mark.