By JIM METCALFE

jmetcalfe@delphosherald.com

ELIDA — St. John’s boys basketball head coach Aaron Elwer had a “simple” game plan: deal with explosive Elida scorer Dakota Mathias — coming in with 124 points in his first three games — and Aric Thompson.

The game plan worked: the Blue Jays held junior Mathias to 5-of-13 shooting for 14 points (adding 12 boards and 5 steals) and senior Thompson to four points (3 blocks) in a 49-44 non-conference triumph over their long-time rivals.