LAPEL — With the holidays just around the corner, and the Madison County Tournament on the horizon, the Lapel boys basketball team had one wish — enter the break with a .500 record.

They did just that and extended their winning streak to four games with a 58-52 win against Muncie Central at home on Friday.

After opening the season with losses in the first four games, the Bulldogs have reeled off four straight wins.

A big third quarter helped the Bulldogs erase a halftime deficit and take full control.

Over the eight-minute period, Lapel outscored the Bearcats 20-10, led by junior forward Bode Judge.

Judge scored eight of the Bulldogs 20 third-quarter points and pulled down five rebounds to help Lapel take a 41-33 lead into the final quarter.

A Nick Witte 3-pointer early in the third put the Bulldogs ahead, and after a Muncie Central basket tied things back up, a Brode Judge basket and free throw put Lapel ahead for good.

That was the beginning of an 11-0 Lapel run, highlighted by a pair of technical fouls by Muncie Central head coach Justin Ulom.

Lapel pushed the lead all the way to 17 in the fourth quarter, but the Bearcats fought back late before the eventual six-point Lapel win.

The Bulldogs trailed 14-7 after one quarter and trailed at halftime before the third-quarter outburst.

Bode Judge led Lapel with a double-double, scoring 20 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.

The Bulldogs will now turn their focus to the upcoming Madison County Tournament, where they’ve had recent success.

Two years ago they fell in the championship game to Anderson 69-34, and last year were defeated by the Indians 81-60 in the championship game.

They begin their bid for another finals appearance at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at home against Elwood.