Houston boys continue undefeated season with win during the opening round of the 3A state basketball tourney

The seventh time was not the charm for the Mount Edgecumbe Braves.

Top-seeded Houston improved to 7-0 this season against its Eastern Conference rival with a 58-42 win over the Braves during the 3A boys quarterfinal round of the ASAA/First National Bank State Basketball Championships Wednesday afternoon at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

Houston used a 26-10 first-quarter run to get past its conference rival. The Hawks beat Mount Edegecumbe four times during the regular season and twice during the double-elimination conference tournament.

Hayden Howard led Houston with 18 points, on 8 of 13 shooting. Cody Wyrick finished with 15. Cole Taylor added nine points and six rebounds.

Houston moves forward to face fourth-seeded Nome Thursday at 6:15 p.m. in the semifinals.

The Wasilla girls and Colony boys also won their 4A quarterfinal games.

Second-seeded Wasilla notched a 52-41 win over seventh-seeded Bartlett. Bella Hays notched a double-double for the Warriors with a game-high 19 points and 12 rebounds. Layla Hays nearly had another double-double with 14 points and nine boards.

Wasilla moves ahead to play third-seeded West Anchorage Friday at 4:45 p.m. in the semifinals. West beat Dimond 53-34.

Fifth-seeded Colony got past fourth-seeded West Valley 52-42 in the 4A boys quarters. Colony will face top-seeded and undefeated East Anchorage Friday at 6:15 in the semifinals.

The Redington girls, Colony girls and Palmer boys suffered first-round losses Wednesday.

Third-seeded Barrow beat sixth-seeded Redington 47-40 in the 3A girls quarterfinals. Lexi Seymore led the Huskies with 14 points. Redington will play seventh-seeded Bethel Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in the consolation semifinals.

Fifth-seeded Ketchikan edged fourth-seeded Colony 56-50 in the 4A girls quarterfinals. Hallie Clark led the Knights with 16 points. Kaylee Wilks and Emma Hopkins scored 13 points each. Colony will play eighth-seeded Lathrop Friday at 11 a.m. in the consolation semifinals.

Second-seeded Dimond beat seventh-seeded Palmer 67-53 in the 4A boys quarterfinals. The Moose will play third-seeded Kodiak Friday at 12:30 p.m. in the consolation semifinals.

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