The Evanston boys basketball team topped Star Valley 62-51 on Friday in its first conference game of the season not on its home court.

“I thought we played pretty dang well. The number one thing was the work we put in last week. I knew we would play well and execute well and we did,” coach Bubba O’Neill said. “The way we practiced last week, I thought it would be tough for whoever played us. Star Valley was the unlucky victim, I guess.”

O’Neill said Friday ranked right up there up with the some of the best games the Red Devils have played this season.

“I thought we played equally as well as we did against Sheridan, which was a big win for us, or against Windsor, Colo., another big win,” he said.

O’Neill said the biggest problem his team faced in the win over Star Valley was foul trouble. Evanston (11-5, 2-1) committed seven fouls in the first quarter and Star Valley (6-9, 1-2) shot free throws on each foul for the remainder of the half.

“We got into a little foul trouble, but some other kids stepped up and did good things,” O’Neill said. “If we didn’t put them at the foul line, it wouldn’t have been close. The game was called a little tight and we’re kind of a physical team. We didn’t make adjustments quickly enough, but we did in the second half.”

O’Neill said Cody Thompson and Jeff Lee, in particular, stepped up when other Red Devils were in foul trouble.

“Our kids did a really nice job. We responded and battled back,” O’Neill said. “We pounded the ball to Beau Ehlers inside and opened the lead up to 15. We cruised from there.”