Houston boys 3-0 on road trip, girls win twice

WASILLA — It was a big weekend for the Houston Hawks.

The Houston boys finished its three-day trek across the Kenai Peninsula 3-0, and the Houston girls picked up a pair of wins during the trip.

The boys capped their perfect weekend with a 73-62 victory at Seward Saturday afternoon. Ben Bitler poured in a game-high 27 points to help lead Houston to the win and push the Hawks to 4-1 in Southcentral Conference play. Bitler shot 11 of 15 from the field, and also pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds. Bitler also added three steals to his double-double. Kade Taylor added 18 points on 7 of 15 shooting. Silas Ross chipped in 10.

Friday, Bitler scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Houston boys to a 57-50 win over the Mariners. Taylor added 18 in the victory. Silas Ross chipped in 11.

A big third quarter turned a close game into a road win for Houston on Thursday. The Hawks used a 19-9 third-quarter run to score a 59-44 victory over Nikiski Nikiski High School.

Taylor scored 16 of his game-high 21 points in the second half, and 10 of Houston’s 19 third-quarter points. It’s the second straight game in which Taylor enjoyed a big second half. Taylor scored 29 second-half points during a loss to Anchorage Christian School on Tuesday.

Thursday, Taylor was 9 of 14 from the free throw line. Bitler added 18 for Houston. Bitler finished with nine field goals, and scored eight of Houston’s 18 points in the second quarter.

After opening the trip with a loss to Nikiski, the Houston girls followed with back-to-back victories. Following a slow start Saturday, Houston used a 24-point second half to earn a 34-32 win at Seward. Houston was held to just one point in the first quarter. Riley Davis led Houston with 11, while Aspen Ruth fell just shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Friday the girls picked up their first win during the trip, beating Homer 43-18. Ruth finished with 13 points.

The Houston girls suffered a 44-23 loss to host Nikiski earlier Thursday evening. Houston was held to only three points in both the first and third quarters. Laci Holms led Houston with eight points.

Houston boys 73, Seward 62

Saturday, Seward

Houston 29-16-24-4—73

Seward 19-17-16-10—62

Houston (73) — Ka. Taylor 7 2-4 18, Ko. Taylor 2 2-3 6, Ruta 3 2-3 9, Ross 3 4-4 10, Bitler 11 5-8 27, Pelesasa 1 1-2 3; Totals: 27 16-24 73.

Seward (62) — Kratz 5 0-0 13, Sieverts 2 0-0 5, Deboard 3 0-0 6, Hauze 5 0-0 15, Estes 1 2-3 5, Petrosious 8 2-6 18, Jarvis 0 1-2 1; Totals: 24 5-12 62.

3-point field goals: Houston 3 (Ka. Taylor 2), Seward 9 (Hauze 5); Total fouls: Houston 15, Seward 22.

Houston girls 34, Seward 32

Saturday, Seward

Houston 1-9-12-12—34

Seward 4-13-6-9—32

Houston (34) — Holmes 1 3-4 5, Davis 3 5-8 11, Ruth 4 2-5 10, M. Moore 2 0-0 4, T. Moore 0 2-2 2, D. Whitted 0 2-2 2; Totals: 10 14-21 34.

Seward (32) — Petrosius 2 0-7 4, Jackson 4 6-8 15, Terry 4 1-2 9, Moriarty 0 2-7 2, Lapinskas 1 0-0 2; Totals: 11 9-22 32.

3-point field goals: Houston 0, Sewrd 1 (Jackson 1); Total fouls: Houston 24 Seward 19.

Houston boys 57, Homer 50

Friday, Homer High School

Houston 10-17-15-15—57

Homer 16-16-8-10—50

Houston (57) — Ka. Taylor 3 11-12 18, Ko. Taylor 1 3-4 5, Ruta 0 1-3 1, Ross 4 3-6 11, Bitler 11 0-3 22; Totals: 19 18-28 57.

Homer (50) — Etzwiler 6 0-0 15, Carroll 0 2-2 2, Edens 1 5-6 7, Ellison 3 1-2 7, Beachy 1 0-0 3, Rohr 6 0-0 16; Totals: 17 8-10 50.

3-point field goals: Houston 1 (Ka. Taylor), Homer 8 (Rohr 4) ; Total fouls: Houston 11, Homer 19.

Houston girls 43, Homer 18

Friday, Homer High School

Houston 12-13-11-7—43

Homer 6-3-5-4—18

Houston (43) — Holms 0 3-7 3, Graham 1 0-0 2, Davis 1 3-4 6, Ruth 4 5-10 13, M. Moore 3 2-4 9, T. Moore 2 0-3 6, Winzenburg 1 0-0 2, Whitted 1 0-1 2; Totals: 13 13-29 43.

Homer (18) — Carroll 1 0-0 2, Knott 0 3-4 3, Todd 2 0-0 4, Parish 1 0-0 2, Bales 1 0-0 2, Veldstra 0 1-2 1, Cole 0 2-5 2, Box 1 0-0 2; Totals: 7 6-11 18.

3-point field goals: 4 (M. Moore 2), Homer 0; Total fouls: Houston 11, Homer 19.

Houston boys 59, Nikiski 44

Thursday, Nikiski High School

Houston 10-18-19-12—59

Nikiski 11-9-5-9—44

Houston (59) — Ka. Taylor 5 9-14 21, Ko. Taylor 3 1-4 7, Ruta 1 2-3 4, Ritter 0 1-2 1, Ross 2 0-0 4, Pelesasa 2 0-0 4, Bitler 9 0-0 18; Totals: 22 13-23 59.

Nikiski (44) — Johnson 2 1-4 5, G. Ellis 3 0-2 7, Kornstad 6 0-1 16, Handley 3 0-0 7, B. Ellis 3 3-6 9; Totals: 17 4-14 44.

3-point field goals: Houston 2 (Ka. Taylor 2), Nikiski 6 (Kornstad 4); Total fouls: Nikiski 16, Houston 11.

Nikiski girls 44, Houston 23

Thursday, Houston High School

Houston 3-10-3-7—23

Nikiski 10-8-12-14—44

Houston (23) — Holms 3 2-5 8, Davis 2 0-0 4, Ruth 2 1-1 5, M. Moore 2 0-0 4, T. Moore 0 1-1 1, Whitted 0 1-1 1; Totals: 9 5-8 23.

Nikiski (44) — Wik 1 0-0 2, Pitt 2 0-0 4, Vollertsen 2 2-4 6, Carstens 6 1-1 13, Kornstad 2 1-2 7, Clark 1 3-6 5, Jackson 2 1-2 5, Porter 1 0-0 2; Totals: 17 8-15 44.

3-point field goals: Houston 0, Nikiski 2 (Kornstad 2); Total fouls: Nikiski 14, Houston 17.