Hawks clamp down on Kards in win over Kenai boys

HOUSTON — Houston’s recipe for success is fairly simple. There is one major ingredient: energy.

With that, the Hawks raced to an early lead and scored a 51-37 nonconference win over Kenai Thursday at Houston High.

“The thing with us, if we have energy, usually we’re pretty good,” Houston head coach Steve Henderson said after the win. “It’s just a matter of being consistent and getting that energy. Playing smart, tough basketball with a lot of energy.”

After allowing an early Miles Jones three-pointer that tied the game at 3 during the opening minutes of the game, Houston held Kenai scoreless until Jones drained another three-pointer at the 6:58 mark of the second quarter.

“Our focus was on kind of locking them down a little bit,” Henderson said.

Kenai managed a dozen points in the second quarter, but nine of those came during the final 3:09 of the half. At the 3:09 mark, Josh Jackman went to the basket, drew a foul and hit the ensuing free throw to complete the three-point play.

But before those Jackman points, the Matt Barron-led Hawks were cruising to a big lead. Barron, a senior, scored a dozen of his game-high 19 points during the first two quarters. The Hawks led 10-3 after the first quarter, and led 14-3 after Dustin Griffith grabbed easy buckets on back-to-back possessions early in the second quarter.

Barron hit a three-pointer to push Houston’s advantage, and scored seven points in the quarter.

The Hawks led 26-15 at the break.

Kenai managed to cut Houston’s lead to single digits a handful of times in the second half, but always trailed by at least nine points.

“Obviously we would like to put them away, but we didn’t let them back in. That’s a big step for us,” Henderson said.

Barron pulled down a game-high nine rebounds in the win. Lane Taylor finished with nine points and eight rebounds. Mitchell Ruta chipped in six points.

Jones led Kenai with 10 points, and was 2 for 5 from behind the arc. Nate Saavedra chipped in nine points and Jackman added eight.

Kenai was held to 1 of 10 shooting during the first quarter, and 25 percent shooting in the game.

Houston 51, Kenai 37

Thursday, Houston High School

Kenai 3-12-14-8—37

Houston 10-16-13-12—51

Kenai (37) — Theisen 1 0-0 2, Shirnberg 1 3-3 5, Jackman 3 2-3 8, Saavedra 3 2-2 9, Ivy 1 0-0 3, Jones 4 0-2 10; Totals: 15 7-10 37.

Houston (51) — Kleewein 1 2-2 4, Griffith 2 0-0 4, Baird 1 0-0 2, L. Taylor 2 5-6 9, Barron 8 2-3 19, N. Saechao 0 4-6 4, J. Taylor 1 1-2 3; Totals: 17 16-23 51.

3-point field goals: Kenai 4 (Jones 2), Houston 1 (Barron 1); Total fouls: 20, Houston 17.