FRUITPORT – The Fruitport boys basketball team clearly has talent and potential, but the Trojans are still learning how to finish games.

That showed on Monday night, when Fruitport led Oakridge by as many as 18 points, then had to hang on late to secure what turned out to be an exciting 68-65 victory at home over the Eagles.

“We talked about it in the locker room, that we have to get better in those end-of-game moments,” said Fruitport head coach Steve Erny. “We’ll see on film that it’s easy fixes, like being stronger with the ball and being smarter with it.

“It was certainly an ugly fourth quarter in a lot of ways, but it’s fun to win and we held on.”

The winning part is important, considering the Trojans were 7-18 last season. Monday’s win gave them a 2-1 record so far in the young season.

“I think our half-court offense is much more confident,” said Erny, whose team will play Montague on the road on Wednesday in another non-conference matchup. “I thought in the first couple of games we stood around a lot. But I think guys are more confident with what we’re in, and are just going to do it.”

The Trojans roared out of the gates against Oakridge and held an 18-8 lead after the first quarter of play.

DayDay Williams led the Trojans with five points in the quarter.

Fruitport started the second quarter on a 13-5 run to take a 31-13 lead with 5:20 remaining in the first half.

But Oakridge ended the bleeding at that point, finishing the half with a 13-8 run to cut the Trojans’ lead to 39-26 at the break.

Fruitport was aided by 11 offensive rebounds in the first half, which led to eight second-chance points.

“Offensive rebounding that half was huge,” Erny said. “Our guards were crashing the boards with aggression. The second chances were a huge part for us in the first half.”

Oakridge outscored the Trojans 19-16 in the third quarter to cut Fruitport’s lead to 55-45 headed into the fourth.

With the score 62-49 with 6:22 remaining, it still appeared that Fruitport was headed for a non-dramatic win.

Oakridge had different ideas, however, going on a 16-4 run to make the score 66-65 with 40.7 seconds remaining.

Williams stepped up to the free throw line with 36.7 seconds left and split the pair to make the score 67-65.

Oakridge missed a shot and had the rebound stripped away, then Fruitport’s Hudson Hazekamp was fouled with 15.5 seconds remaining.

Hazekamp split the free throws to make the score 68-65.

Oakridge had one final chance on offense and missed three different three-point attempts to ultimately give Fruitport the victory.

“I was just hoping one didn’t go in,” said Williams about sweating through the Eagles’ final possession. “In those situations, anything can fall. Thankfully it didn’t. It was a great win and it’s always fun to have a close game.”

Williams led all scorers with 18 points on the night while teammates Dexter Lillmars and Hazekamp each finished with 14 points.

“When you got guys like Dexter and Hudson knocking down shots, it will hopefully open up lanes,” Erny said about the offense hitting perimeter shots to open up driving lanes for Williams. “If (Williams) can’t get to the rim, he’ll kick it out to someone who can knock down a three.

“I think we’ll continue to get better with that. When you can penetrate and kick, those are the best kind of threes you can get.”

Oakridge was paced by Peyton Ruel with 19 points.