Hawks keep focus, fight in close 2-point loss to Valdez

HOUSTON — Sometimes the Houston Hawks simply fall short, both literally and figuratively.

Houston had a pair of chances during the final seconds to post the go-ahead score, but the Hawks — facing a considerable size disadvantage inside — couldn’t get their shots to drop and fell 44-42 to Valdez Friday night at Houston High.

“Size-wise, it’s been a struggle all year,” Houston head coach Dave Porter said after the loss.

Valdez senior post Christian Duffy gave the Hawks — who don’t boast a starter taller than 6-foot or reserve taller than 6-4 — fits throughout the night and managed to get his 6-5 frame in the way as the Hawks tried to find the go-ahead score.

The final opportunity at the game-winner was set up by a second-half Houston rally. Valdez led by double-digits late in the first half, but the Hawks flew back into the game with a 10-5 third-quarter run.

“We did what we always do. We don’t give up,” Porter said. “I’m proud of them for that.”

Beau Frank scored all 11 of his points in the second half. The junior hit a trio of three-pointers to help pull his team back into game. Porter said Frank has struggled a bit from the field as of late, but the Hawks remain confident in their junior.

“We kept telling him, we’re going to keep giving him opportunity,” Porter said of Frank. “(We said) you just need to keep shooting and you’ll find it. He finally found it (tonight) and we needed it.”

Frank drained his first three in the third quarter to cut the Valdez lead to four points. Following another small Buccaneer run, Frank hit another long shot to cut back into the Valdez lead. His third three-pointer cut the Houston deficit to just a possession.

“He really was the life of us in the second half,” Porter said. “Knocking down those threes really helped us get back into the game.”

Scott Kramer, who finished with a team-high 14, also hit big shots down the stretch. A Kramer basket cut the Valdez lead to 41-40 late. He brought the Hawks back within one with a baseline jumper with 23 seconds left.

Senior Max Rothley added 10 points for the Hawks, getting most of his points by challenge taller Valdez players inside.

“He’s a guard, but we’ve turned him into a post,” Porter said. “He used to be a decent three-point shooter, but we’ve taken him out of that role and said you need to go inside and matchup against those big guys. I give him a lot of credit, he has a lot of heart.”

A Houston rally also fell short in the girls game.

Junior Savanna James scored nine of her team-high 18 during the fourth-quarter to help Houston chew into a double-digit Valdez lead, but the Bucs were able to escape with a 47-36 victory over Houston.

Valdez used a 21-5 third-quarter run to take a double-digit advantage into the fourth. Alex Derifield and Caitlin Auble combined to score all 21 of the Bucs’ points in the third. Auble scored 11 of her 19 points and Derifield contributed half of her game-high 20 in the third.

Houston also led by double digits earlier in the game. Jannae Shannon grabbed steals and layups on consecutive possessions to spark Houston’s 15-point second quarter. James added a pair of three-pointers in the second. Houston led 24-14 at the half.

Shannon finished with 14 points.

On Saturday, Grace Christian swept a pair of nonconference games at Houston.

Valdez boys 44, Houston 42

Friday, Houston High

Valdez 12-15-5-12—44

Houston 8-10-10-14—42

Valdez (44) — Rohrer 0 0-2 0, M. Duffy 0 1-2 1, Keeney 5 0-0 11, Lowe 7 1-1 15, Starbuck 3 2-3 8, C. Duffy 4 0-1 9.

Houston (42) — Lapham 1 2-2 4, Frank 4 0-0 11, Kramer 5 0-0 12, Rothley 4 2 -5 10, Barron 1 1-2 3.

Valdez girls 47, Houston 46

Firday, Houston High

Valdez 5-9-21-12—47

Houston 9-15-5-17—46

Valdez (47) — Wells 0 0-2 0, Derifiled 7 3-6 20, Comer 0 6-10 6, Auble 7 5-8 19, Haltness 1 0-1 2.

Houston (46) — James 7 2-4 18, Acton 2 2-6 6, Ritter 2 2-4 6, Shafer 1 0-0 2, Shannon 67 1-5 14.

Grace Christian boys 40, Houston 29

Saturday, Houston High

Grace 10-8-10-12—40

Houston 10-3-10-6—29

Grace (40) — Boumon 1 0-0 2, Edwards 5 4-5 15, Vandervalk 4 1-2 0, Bouman 2 4-4 6, McGlaughon 0 1-2 1, Harrison 2 0-2 6.

Houston (29) — M. Barron 1 0-0 2, Lapham 1 3-3 6, Frank 1 0-0 3, Kramer 1 0-0 3, Rothley 4 6-7 15.

Grace Christian girls 55, Houston 46

Saturday, Houston High

Grace 7-7-18-16-10—55

Houston 7-8-13-18—46

Grace (55) — Dupea 2 2-4 7, Todd 1 3-6 , Eckmann 8 2 7 20, Burroughs 2 2-10 6, Birky 2 1-2 5, Viergutz 2 6-8 10.

Houston (46) — Dodds 2 0-0 4, James 8 8-11 26, Acton 1 2-6 4, Lee 2 0-4 4, Ritter 2 0-0 4, Shannon 1 2-4 4.