Late effort not enough for Houston Hawks

HOUSTON — For 16 minutes, the Houston Hawks battled the Skyview Panthers in an evenly-matched stretch of basketball.

The only problem — the game was 32 minutes long.

Skyview took advantage of a quick start to stake a 26-3 halftime lead and score a 44-26 win over Houston at Houston High School on Saturday.

“We haven’t had the quick start all year long,” Skyview coach Cary Calvert said. “It was nice to have.”

Skyview junior guard Casee Penrod fired a pair of three-pointers early to spark a 10-0 Panthers run and help Skyview grab the early advantage. Calvert said the early success was certainly key to his team’s nonconference victory.

“We definitely got a little bit of confidence,” Calvert said.

Skyview kept Houston off the scoreboard until sophomore Savannah Ritter sank a free throw with five minutes left in the first.

Houston was held to just one basket in the first 16 minutes, an Amber Acton lay-up early in the second quarter.

The outside shot also proved to be key for the Panthers in the first half. Skyview nailed five three-pointers during the first two quarters. In addition to Penrod, freshman Amanda McDowell also hit a pair of shots behind the arc. Senior Melissa Massey also hit a three-pointer.

Houston actually kept Skyview off the scoreboard for much of the second quarter. After the Panthers took a 17-1 lead with a Jessica Stewart free throw within the first minute of the second quarter, Skyview would not get another bucket until McDowell hit the first of her two three-pointers with 1:30 left in the half. Skyview hit three, three-pointers during the final 90 seconds of the second.

Houston enjoyed more success offensively in the second half.

Senior captain Ariel Katzenberger sparked an 8-0 with a jump shot off the glass early in the third, and led by freshman Savanna James’ team-high eight points, Houston was able to score 23 points during the final 16 minutes of play.

Houston outscored Skyview 23-18 in the second half.

Guard Rachel Shannon added five points in the second half, and hit a three-pointer late in the game.

“They kept playing,” Calvert said of Houston.

On Friday, Houston suffered a 44-31 loss to Homer.

Houston boys edge Homer, rout Skyview

HOUSTON — The Houston boys won a pair of games over the weekend at Houston High School.

The Hawks opened the weekend with a 48-47 overtime win over the Homer Mariners. Zack Qual scored 15 points to lead Houston, while Scott Herman added 14 points.

Bryan Mason chipped in 11 in the win.

On Saturday afternoon, Houston used a 48-point effort in the second half to post a 73-53 win over Skyview.

Herman led Houston with 17 points. Mason, who finished 10-for-15 from the free-throw line, scored 16. Qual added 11.

After trailing at halftime, the Hawks flew to the lead with a 22-9 third-quarter run.

Wasilla senior

scores 37 in win

WASILLA — Wasilla senior Jenna Johnson scored 37 points to lead the Warriors to a 62-38 win over Homer on Saturday at Wasilla High School.

The all-state guard hit 16 shots from the floor in the win, and four from beyond the three-point arc.

Junior Jillian Troisi and sophomore Celeste Colegrove added six each for Wasilla.

On Friday morning in front of the Wasilla High School student body, Wasilla scored a 57-22 win over Skyview.

Johnson posted a game-high 17 against the Panthers. Sophomore Kelsey Cottle added 15.

Sophomore Brittany Mercier led the Panthers with 11 points.

Wasilla boys

cruise to wins

WASILLA — The Wasilla Warriors improved to 6-0 in Northern Lights Conference play with a weekend wins over Homer and Skyview.

Adrese LaVern scored 16 points and was one of four players to score in double digits during a 75-28 win over Homer.

Junior Cody Pfeifer added 15 points. Freshman Braydon Kuiper finished with 11 and junior John Knowles chipped in 10.

Homer, meanwhile, failed to have a player hit double-digits in scoring.

On Friday, LaVern scored 30 in an 82-27 win over Skyivew.