Hawks top Skyview

HOUSTON — Athletes can be creatures of habit. Even slight changes to the routine can throw them off.

On a typical long day of basketball, the Houston girls’ varsity game follows the Hawks boys’ junior varsity contest, and the Hawk girls use the J.V. game to help the timing of their preparation.

But Saturday’s boys’ junior varsity game was cancelled, and that threw off the Hawks’ pregame, head coach Pat Egelus said.

“Not having the J.V. boys game kind of messes with them. The same thing happened when we hosted just a single girls game. They were not really sure what to do. They even dressed a half-hour early,” Egelus said of the Hawks, who overcame a slow start and cruised past the Skyview Panthers 68-29 at HHS.

Houston, which improved to 8-1 in Southcentral Conference play with the win, held a slim 12-11 lead after the first, but caught fire with a 28-3 second-quarter run.

“The girls woke up,” Egelus said. “We feed off positive things. Once something goes right, everything starts clicking.”

Senior Ne Ne Hale scored 13 of her game-high 20 during the second quarter. Savannah Wells added 17 points in the game, Victoria Baybado chipped in 11 and Leshawna Lee added eight points.

Hale has been Houston’s go-to offensive threat throughout the 2012-13 season, but Egelus said other players are really beginning to step up offensively.

“It’s huge,” Egelus said. “The last two games we’ve had four or five girls get into the offense.”

Hale fell two assists shy of a triple-double in the win, finishing with 20 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. She also had six steals. Baybado also had nine rebounds and three steals for the Hawks, who forced 29 turnovers.

Meghan Powers scored 18 of Skyview’s 29 points in the loss. Powers hit a pair of three pointers and scored eight of Skyview’s 11 in the first quarter. Sammantha Reynolds also had a first-quarter three for the Panthers, who held a lead during the first eight minutes.

“I told the girls they’re not going to lay down. Everybody knows everybody’s record by now, but that doesn’t mean teams don’t come to play,” Egelus said.

Reynolds added 10 points for the Panthers.

In boys’ action, Matt Barron scored eight of his game-high 20 in the first quarter to lead the Hawks to a 55-33 win over Skyview. Houston led 18-9 after the first quarter and used an 18-point third quarter to grab the win. Lane Taylor added eight points for Houston.

Jacob Carlson led the Panthers with eight.

Houston forced 20 Skyview turnovers in the win, and Barron added five steals to his game-best 2-0 points.

Houston closes its regular season with a home series against Anchorage Christian School Friday at HHS.

For complete statistics, read this story at Frontiersman.com.

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

Houston girls 68, Skyview 29

Saturday, Houston High

Skyview 11-3-7-8—29

Houston 12-28-18-10—68

Skyview (29) — Powers 7 2-2 18, Reynolds 3 0-1 10, Rouse 0 1-2 2; Totals: 10 3-5 29.

Houston (68) — Lee 4 0-0 8, Wells 8 1-1 17, Nida 2 1-4 5, Apangolook 0 2-2 2, Baybado 4 2-6 11, Hale 8 0-0 20, Irvin 2 0-0 5; Totals: 28 6-13 68.

Houston 55, Skyview 33

Saturday, Houston High

Skyview 8-6-7-12—33

Houston 18-9-18-10—55

Skyview (33) — Collier 2 1-3 5, Rice 1 1-2 3, Hill 1 1-2 3, 1 0-0 2, Duke 1 4-6 6, Carlson 2 4-6 8, Henderson 1 1-2 3; Totals: 10 12-21 33.

Houston (55) — Griffith 0 3-3 3, Taylor 3 1-2 8, Brandt 3 0-2 6, Barron 6 4-6 20, Saechao 1 2-2 5, Ruta 3 0-0 7, Buzby 1 1-2 3, Taylor 1 0-0 3; Totals: 18 11-18 55.