Houston boys open basketball season with win

SOLDOTNA — The Houston Hawks opened their 2015-16 season with a 60-54 boys basketball win over Homer during the first day of the Al Howard/Powerade Tip-off Tournament at Soldotna High School.

Ben Bitler led the Hawks with 20 points in the victory and Kade Taylor added 18. Koby Etzwiller scored game-best 30 for the Mariners.

Houston continues play against host Soldotna Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The Houston girls also made a weekend trip to the Peninsula, and suffered a 49-26 loss to host Kenai during the first day of the Kenai River Challenge. Kimberly Quincy led Houston with 10 points. The Hawks play Soldotna Friday at 3 p.m. in Kenai.

Hawks 60, Mariners 54

Houston 14 12 15 19 —60

Homer 10 15 11 18 —54

HOUSTON (60) — Ka. Taylor 7 0-1 18, Ko. Taylor 3 0-2 6, Ruta 2 1-2 5, Ross 1 2-2 4, Pelesasa 1 0-0 2, Graham 2 0-2 5, Dika 0 0-0 0, Bitler 8 4-7 20. Totals — 23 7-16 60.

HOMER (54) — Ravin 1 0-0 2, Rohr 1 1-2 3, Etzwiler 9 5-6 30, Beachy 1 0-0 2, Edens 0 0-0 0, Beck 0 0-0 0, Ellison 3 0-4 6, Kauelid 5 1-3 11, Carroll 0 0-0 0. Totals — 20 7-11 54.

3-point goals — Houston 5 (Ka. Taylor 4, Graham 1); Homer 7 (Etzwiler 7). Team fouls — Houston 18, Homer 17. Fouled out — Etzwiler, Kauelid.

Kardinals 49, Hawks 26

Houston 8 3 8 6 —26

Kenai 12 9 12 16 —49

HOUSTON (26) — Holmes 0, May-Thomas 0, Bean 0, Bohl 2, Ruth 1, M. Moore 0, Leonard 0, Wilkerson 9, Quincy 10, Kapuneai 0, Davis 0, T. Moore 4.

KENAI (49) — Calvert 0, Holmes 6, Drury 3, Steinbeck 8, Creighton 7, Baker 4, Booth 3, Morse 2, Ross 0, Beck 12, Satathite 2, Every 2.

3-point goals — Houston 1 (Wilkerson 1); Kenai 1 (Booth 1). Team fouls — Houston 16, Kenai 19. Fouled out — Drury.