Southwestern struggled to score in the second quarter of the third-place game of the Bulldog Holiday Classic Wednesday night at Monrovia High School.

That allowed Tipton to build a double-digit lead that more than doubled after the Blue Devils produced a 27-point third quarter to secure a 61-47 victory over the Spartans.

After an even first quarter, the Spartans managed one Jordan Jones field goal in the second quarter to fall behind 25-13 at the half.

Nolan Swan hit three of his game-high five three-pointers in the third quarter when the Blue Devils (8-3) outscored Southwestern 27-12. Swan had 11 of his game-high 23 points in that third quarter.

Aiden Hartsell scored 11 of his team-high 20 points in the fourth quarter for Southwestern (3-6).

Jordan Jones added 15 but no other Spartan scored more than three points in the loss.

Tipton’s starting five scored all 61 points.

Nate Powell finished with 14 while Jackson Money, Samuel Ridgeway and Grady Carpenter each tallied eight points.

Southwestern now turns its attention to the Shelby County Tournament at Waldron where it will face the host Mohawks in one semifinal game on Jan. 7.

In their first meeting on Dec. 18 at Southwestern, Waldron prevailed 61-56 in three overtimes.

In the other Wednesday games at the Bulldog Holiday Classic, Mitchell kept Milan winless this season with a 68-65 overtime victory in the seventh-place game.

Mitchell is 5-6 this season while Milan is 0-8.

Greenwood Christian routed Monrovia in the fifth-place game, 63-25. Greenwood Christian improved to 4-6 while Monrovia dropped to 4-5.

And in the championship, Tri-West defeated Danville, 58-45. Tri-West is 6-2 this season while Danville dropped to 8-2.