The Inter-Mountain photo by Joey Kittle Elkins High’s Dreyton Boggs battles his way to the basket against Robert C. Byrd Friday night at Richard P. Simmons Memorial Gymnasium. Boggs had 14 points in the Tigers’ 58-56 setback.

ELKINS — Elkins coach Amrit Rayfield knew his team would go through some growing pains with four new starters taking to the court this season.

Rayfield’s young Tigers took some big steps on Friday night, leading Class AAA, No. 4 Robert C. Byrd for three-plus quarters before the Flying Eagles’ experience took over behind the play of senior Logan Boyce.

Boyce, who went over 1,000 points for his career during the night, scored 16 of high game-high 24 ppoints in the second half to lead RCB a 58-56 hard-fought Big 10 Conference and regional victory in front of a large gathering at Richard P. Simmons Memorial Gymnasium.

Elkins, which was plagued by 16 second-half turnovers against the Flying Eagle pressure defense, led by as many as 13 points, at 43-30, late in the third quarter after Bryson Gainer hit a free throw after a technical was whistled against the visitors.

RCB responded with a 10-1 surge to end the quarter, however, to cut the lead to 44-40 after four straights from Boyce to end the frame.

The momentum continued for the Flying Eagles in the final eight minutes of action with Boyce once again leading the way.

The guard netted six straight and unanswered points to put the Flying Eagles on top, 46-44, for the first time since the early stages of the game.

Landon Shreve, the lone returning starter for the Tigers with back-to-back baskets to tie the game after the RCB lead had grown to four.

With the contest still deadlocked at 50 with just over 2 minutes remaining, Gainer hit a key trey for Elkins.

Shreve once again stepped for the Tigers, converting an old-fashioned three-point play to treat the hosts to a 56-53 advantage with 30 ticks showing on the clock.

But after a Flying Eagle timeout, Boyce drilled the game-tying 3-pointer, and later Jeremih Williams the game-winning basket on a breakout.

The game was tied at 16-16 after one quarter before the Tigers held a 17-5 scoring edge in the second to take a 33-21 lead into the halftime break.

Shreve was one of three players in double figures for Elkins with 15 points, followed by Dreyton Boggs with 14 and Isaiah Nutter with 11.

“Proud of the effort tonight,” Tigers coach Amrit Rayfield said. “Just wish they would have got rewarded with a win. We just need to fix the turnovers and free-throw shooting.”

Boyce finished with a game-high 24 points — 16 coming in the second half — for RCB (7-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big 10).

The Tigers (0-6, 0-3 Big 10) visit North Marion Wednesday for another league tilt.