Hawks ready to soar in 2016

HOUSTON — What a difference a year makes.

That may be the central theme to the potential of the Houston High School boys’ basketball program this season.

Houston will once against have a young squad. There are no seniors on the roster. But all of the underclassmen thrown to the basketball wolves last season have a year’s worth of experience. And that growth has Houston head coach Steve Henderson excited.

“It’s enormous for our entire team,” Henderson said of the growth. “They were all freshmen and sophomores last year.”

Houston’s youth left the Hawks a tad behind last season, leaving a scrappy bunch off pace from the competition.

“A step slow to every ball, every rebound. The little things,” Henderson said. “They were competitive most games. But 15-, 16-year-olds playing against 17-, 18-year-olds, it makes a big difference.”

But now they’re a year older, with a season of varsity basketball under their belts.

“That maturity thing is kicking in a bit,” Henderson said.

Houston’s top returners include guard Kade Taylor and forward Ben Bitler.

“Those two guys really do the majority of our scoring,” Henderson said. “ What’s nice, they’re a big and small combo. An inside and outside combo is so crucial.”

Henderson said the Taylor-Bitler combination could be among the best inside-outside duos in the Southcentral Conference.

Taylor and Bitler have already thrived for the 2-1 Hawks this season. Taylor scored 28 and Bitler added 11 during a 63-55 win over 4A Soldotna in the Al Howard Tip-Off Tournament at Soldotna last month. Bitler scored 20 and Taylor added 18 during a season-opening victory over Homer in the SoHi tourney. Taylor scored a season-high 35 against a loss to Kenai in the tournament.

Henderson noted Reed Graham as another key returner, a sophomore expected to play key roles for the Hawks.

Henderson also noted a pair of newcomers expected to play big roles for the Hawks, Kolby Taylor and Ben Pelesasa.

“Having him completely changes the dynamic,” Henderson said of Kolby Taylor, Houston’s point guard. “He’s solid, gritty.”

Henderson said Pelesasa is new to the varsity game, but has a knack for the ball.

“Get him in the game, and he seems to be around the ball, wherever it is,” Henderson said of Pelesasa, who already has 18 offensive rebounds in Houston’s first three games of the season.

Like the boys’, the Houston girls also welcomed back key veterans when the Hawks flew into the new season. Forwards Kimberly Quincy and Aspen Ruth are expected to lead Houston in 2016.

“They’re definitely our leading scorers. Aspen leads the team in rebounds and steals,” Houston head coach Colton Conner said of the Hawks, who are off to a 1-2 start.

Quincy and Ruth are part of an experienced nucleus that also includes senior Kaila Wilkerson and junior Makayla Moore.

“It’s nice to see the maturity of the team,” Conner said.

Conner said he saw that maturity during Houston’s come-from-behind victory over 4A Soldotna in the Kenai River Challenge tournament last month. Soldotna led until late. But Houston was able to put together a handful of big buckets and a few defensive stops to grab the win.

“It was really good to see the girls battle,” Conner said.

Overall, Conner said he’s excited about his team’s potential this year.

“We should be competitive in the region,” Conner said.

The Houston boys and girls squads will both spend plenty of time on the road this year. Houston’s basketball schedule includes only six home games each for the boys and girls. The Hawks will play a tournament-heavy schedule, that includes upcoming tourneys in Barrow, Delta and Kotzebue.

Houston hosts Grace Christian in its home opener Jan. 12.

** Editor’s note: This is the first piece of a series of stories featuring the local prep basketball programs. See upcoming editions of the Frontiersman for more.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersma.com.