AUGUSTA — The Deming Black Devils know they can always count on the King twins to perform at a high level, and that was the case again in Tuesday’s opening night of the boys’ high school basketball season as the Devils defeated Augusta 73-57.

In the first game of their junior season, the brothers combined for 37 points and 19 rebounds, with Kyle achieving a double-double, leading all scorers with 19 points and grabbing 11 boards, and Luke pitching in 18 points and collecting eight rebounds.

Deming also got excellent production from a pair of sophomores, Calvin Schalch and Johnathan Pilosky, who each added 14 points. Pilosky came off the bench to score 12 of his in the first half, and Schalch scored all of his points in the second 16 minutes.

“Yes, a couple of the sophomores really picked it up tonight, and they don’t mind taking shots, and we need some guys to step up and score for us along with the Kings,” said Deming coach Jamey Johnson. “I’m also proud of the way we hit the boards tonight (44-27 in favor of the Devils.) This is also a tough place to open the season, you know Augusta’s always going to play you really hard. It was also a sloppy game, we had too many silly turnovers, even though we are trying to play at a fast pace.”

Each of the small-school teams committed 27 turnovers.

The visitors opened up an early nine-point lead, but a 12-2 Augusta run, punctuated by a nice move from junior guard Colton Fraysure for a layup, gave the Panthers a 21-20 lead with 4:13 left in the second quarter.

The home team held a 27-26 lead at the half, but Deming’s hot third quarter broke open the game. The Devils outscored the Panthers 31-13, making 12 of 21 from the field during the period, led by Kyle King’s 15 points. Schalch, who was scoreless at the break, hit a pair of key 3-pointers during the quarter and added nine points. His field goal with six seconds left in the third put the Devils in front, 57-40.

Augusta was able to cut into the 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter, thanks to three 3-pointers from junior guard Stephen Gibbs, who came off the bench to lead the Panthers with 18 points. His four-point play with 6:30 left in the game made the score 59-50, but that was as close as the hosts would get the rest of the way.

“Stephen gave us a huge lift off the bench,” said Augusta coach Robin Kelsch. “I’m excited about some things we did tonight, but we’re really young, and we had some indecision in our half-court offense. We didn’t do a good job of attacking, but we were really unselfish and we share the ball. We’re still learning, and good times are ahead. We also played a very good team tonight, and there’s not an ounce of quit in this team.”

Fraysure contributed 15 points for the Panthers, and junior center Jacob Kelsch added 10.

Both teams return to action Friday, when Deming hosts Bourbon County, and the Panthers travel to Calvary Christian.

Deming 18 8 31 16 —73

Augusta 11 16 13 17 —57

DHS: Earlywine 1 0-0 2, L. King 8 1-5 18, Schalch 5 1-2 14, K. King 8 2-4 19, Caldwell 2 0-2 4, Pilosky 7 0-0 14, Collins 1 0-0 2. Totals 32 4-12 73.

AHS: Moore 2 1-2 6, Appelman 1 0-0 2, Kelsch 5 0-1 10, Fraysure 7 0-0 15, Thorpe 1 0-0 2, Gibbs 6 1-1 18. Totals 24 2-4 57.

3-pointers: DHS 5 (Schalch 3, K. King, L. King), AHS 7 (Gibbs 5, Fraysure, Moore). Records: Deming 1-0, Augusta 0-1.