Houston boys are tourney champs

HOUSTON — Another trip to Nikiski High School, another trophy for the Houston boys basketball program.

The Hawks won the Nikiski-Tip Off for the fourth straight year with a 53-46 win over the host Bulldogs Saturday at Nikiski High.

Matt Barron, who was named most valuable player of the tourney, scored a team-high 12 points for the Hawks. Lane Taylor added 11, while Jace Taylor and Charlie Buzby chipped in eight points each.

Houston used a 24-point second quarter to grab the victory. Seven different players scored during that eight-minute stretch, led by Barron’s six points. Nikiski outscored Houston 16-7 during the final frame, but the Hawks held on for the victory.

Houston also beat Dillingham and Kotzebue during the three-day, four-team round robin tourney. Barron led the Hawks with 15 points during a 40-37 win over Dillingham on Friday. Jace Taylor and Samuel Brandt added seven each.

Mitchell Ruta was also named all-tournament for the Hawks.

Ne Ne Hale also earned tournament MVP for the Hawks. Hale, a first-year Houston player, netted 18 points during a 52-48 loss to host Nikiski during the final day. Hale knocked down six shots, including a trio of three-pointers, against the Bulldogs. Seven of her 18 came in Houston’s 18-point fourth quarter.

Savannah Wells also had a strong game for the Hawks, finishing with 15 points. She scored eight first-quarter points. With Wells’ help, Houston led 15-10 after the first quarter.

Hale scored 25 during a 52-50 loss to Dillingham on Friday. Wells added nine points.

Houston boys 53, Nikiski 46

Nikiski Tip-Off

Saturday, Nikiski

Houston 12-24-10-7—53

Nikiski

Houston (53) — Griffith 1 2-3 4, L. Taylor 3 4-4 11, Brandt 1 3-4 5, Barron 4 2-9 12, Ruta 0 2-2 2, Buzby 4 0-0 8, Pease 1 0-0 3, J. Taylor 3 2-2 8; Totals: 17 15-24 53.

Nikiski (46) — Li. Johnson 2 1-3 5, Lu. Johnson 2 0-0 6, Hartley 0 1-2 1, Ross 5 1-8 12, Griffith 0 2-2 2, Carstens 9 0-0 20; Totals: 18 5-15 46.

Nikiski girls 52, Houston 48

Nikiski Tip-Off

Saturday, Nikiski

Houston 15-11-5-17—48

Nikiski 10-18-5-19—52

Houston (48) — Wells 7 1-2 15, Baybado 2 1-3 5, Barber 1 1-2 3, Quincy 2 3-5 7, Hale 6 3-4 18; Totals: 18 9-16 48.

Nikiski (52) — Epperheimer 1 0-0 2, Lynch 3 2-11 8, Thompson 1 6-13 9, Holloway 2 2-4 7, Cook 0 2-2 2, Wallis 7 0-0 14, Darch 4 2-3 10; Totals: 18 14-33 52.

Houston boys 40, Dillingham 37

Nikiski Tip-Off

Friday, Nikiski

Houston 10-6-11-13—40

Dillingham 5-11-13-8—37

Houston (40) — L. Taylor 1 1-2 3, Brandt 3 0-0 7, Barron 5 3-5 15, Ruta 2 0-1 4, Buzby 2 0-0 4, J. Taylor 3 1-2 7; Totals: 16 5-10 40.

Dillingham (37) — Savo 3 0-0 9, Flensburg 2 0-0 4, Wasilly 2 0-0 4, Schlagel 3 0-0 7, Alvardo 5 2-2 13; Totals: 15 2-2 37.

Dillingham girls 52, Houston 50

Nikiski Tip-Off

Friday, Nikiski

Houston 2-4-19-25—50

Dillingham 0-15-23-14—52

Houston (50) — Wells 4 0-1 9, Nida 0 1-2 1, Baybado 1 2-4 4, Quincy 2 2-2 6, Hale 11 2-2 25, Wilkerson 1 3-3 5; Totals: 19 11-14 50.

Dillingham (52) — Day 3 0-0 8, Rolf 2 5-10 9, Schroeder 4 0-0 9, Carlos 2 3-7 7, Tennyson 6 2-3 17, Timmerson 1 0-2 2; Totals: 18 10-22 52.