Ottawa ? When Santa Fe Trail’s boys basketball team broke Ottawa High’s full-court press Friday, the Chargers stayed in the game.

The times they didn’t made the difference in a 54-44 Ottawa victory.

Santa Fe Trail (5-7) hung with Ottawa, ranked No. 3 in Class 4A, for three quarters on Friday, but the Cyclone defense proved too relentless.

“When we did break the press, we played at the top of our game,” Santa Fe Trail coach Brian Luther said. “There’s no merit in coming close.”

Ottawa (12-2) won despite poor shooting and a defense that coach David Grover said wasn’t aggressive enough.

“It’s kind of those dog days of January,” Grover said.

Grover commended the Chargers for holding Ross Thompson, who is averaging 20 points a game, to just 11. The Cyclones shot just 38 percent from the field.

“We’re in a bit of a shooting slump,” Grover said.

The Chargers took advantage and led 27-25 at halftime. At the end of the third quarter, after missing a string of free throws, the Cyclones had a slim two-point lead.

“We were so careless with the basketball the first three quarters,” Grover said.

Also key were the six free throws Ottawa made after the Chargers were forced to foul.

Grover pointed to Andrew Maxwell, who fired up the team with seven points and four rebounds in the second half.

A tough loss last week in the championship game of the Baldwin Invitational was enough for Maxwell, who said he just decided to “stop losing and start hustling after every ball.”

Both teams play again Tuesday.

Ottawa will travel to Kansas City Ward, and Santa Fe Trail will play host to DeSoto.

Ottawa 54, Santa Fe Trail 44

Ottawa 18 7 15 14 — 54

Santa Fe Trail 18 9 11 6 — 44

Ottawa: Drew Waldron 3, Lee Baldwin 9, Jarod Sigmund 2, Michael Cation 9, Andrew Maxwell 12, Clint Bones 8, Ross Thompson 11.

Santa Fe Trail: Shane Miles 4, Jake Marquart 3, Michael Guy 4, Rob Musgrave 5, Jay Shively 2, Shawn Conklin 9, Cameron Babb 11, Jake Carter 6.