Middletown High School boys basketball coach Josh Andrews got exactly what he expected from the Sycamore Aviators on Tuesday night.

If only he could say the same about his own Middies.

Surprised by a lethargic start and uncharacteristic struggles on both ends of the floor, Andrews watched his squad fall so far behind that not even a 33-point fourth quarter could rescue it as host Sycamore posted a 73-67 victory.

“We played with desperation and passion late in this game, but we didn’t start with it,” Andrews said. “If we play 32 minutes with that type of desperation and passion, then I really like where this team can go.”

Junior guard Zach Farquhr hit 6-of-9 3-pointers and scored a career-high 28 points to lead the Aviators to their first win against Middletown since 2006.

“This is obviously a pretty big win,” Farquhr said. “We knew he had something special going with this team this year.”

Mason Morgan (13 points), Dan Ginsberg (11) and Isaiah Brown (10) also scored in double figures for Sycamore, which improved to 10-7 overall and stayed tied for first in the Greater Miami Conference at 7-3.

The Aviators flustered the Middies by staying in a 2-3 zone the entire game, sending Middletown (9-9, 6-4 GMC) to its third consecutive loss.

“We’ve been zoned by various teams this year with some success, but we’ve really kind of run into a wall,” Andrews said. “We scored the basketball so well earlier in the year, but right now we’re not doing anything well.”

The Middies fell behind by as many as 14 in the third quarter, but Vincent Edwards scored 18 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter. His dunk with 5:37 remaining got Middletown within 54-49, but he was whistled for a technical for slapping the rim, taking the steam out of 17-7 run.

“Major turning point,” Andrews said.

Middletown got as close as 64-61 on an Edwards three-point play with 1:09 remaining, but Sycamore sealed the game at the fre- throw line, finishing 26 of 31. The Middies were 5 of 6 from the stripe.

Jalin Marshall added 16 points, and Kylan Jackson tossed in 11 for Middletown.

“When we practice, we do what we want to do, but right now the translation to the game is not there,” Andrews said. “Execution is a major piece, and focus is a major piece. We don’t have time to be concerned. We’ve got to get better.”