HILLSBORO — Jaevin Cumberland’s debut as the new head coach of the Wilmington High School boys basketball team did not produce a victory as host Hillsboro prevailed 66-52.

Cumberland saw some positives and areas of improvement in the wake of a season opening defeat.

“This was not the outcome we wanted but we found out a lot of things about ourselves,” said Cumberland, who starred on the Fred Summers Court hardwood for WHS, where he graduated in 2015. “Basketball is a learning experience and we need to improve on a lot of little things to get us where we want to be.”

Down by as many as 24 in the second half, the Hurricane staged a spirited comeback in the fourth quarter, cutting the difference to 11 with 2:00 to play in regulation. Jayceon Kibler, newcomer to the Hurricane program, ignited the comeback by scoring 17 of his team-high 20 points in the second half.

Tate Davis scored 23 points for Hillsboro.

The Hurricane offense was stagnant in the first half. The Indians led from the start against their former South Central Ohio League rivals. It was 31-15 Hillsboro at the half. Foul trouble for Mikey Brown and Chase Fickert forced Cumberland to juggle his lineup in the third quarter and it appeared that Hillsboro would slam the door on the Hurricane when Davis hit a rainbow three-pointer to end the third with WHS facing a 54-30 deficit.

Wilmington scored 21 of the first 29 points in the fourth quarter to make it 62-51, but the Hurricane could get no closer and the Indians prevailed.

Brown finished with 16 points for Wilmington while Steve Kibler and Dorian Stewart had 12 points each for Hillsboro.

Hillsboro won the jayvee game, 39-38, while Wilmington won the freshman game, 59-39.