Lathrop scores doubleheader sweep of Hawks

HOUSTON — The Lathrop Malemutes managed to always stay one step ahead.

Lathrop built an early lead first-quarter lead and never trailed en route to grabbing a 60-46 Mid-Alaska Conference win over the Houston Hawks at Houston High School on Saturday.

“We just turned the ball over too many times,” Houston head coach Dave Porter said after the loss. “You can’t win games turning it over that much.”

Houston finished with 24 turnovers in the game.

“I told the guys before the game, we needed to have 15 turnovers or less in order to win,” Porter said. “That could have made the difference.”

Lathrop finished with nearly as many, 23 turnovers in the game, but the Malemutes shot 51 percent from the floor and 33 percent from behind the arc during their win.

“We started standing up defensively, but to Lathrop’s credit, they attacked us. They put the ball in the basket,” Porter said.

Lathrop took a seven-point lead into the half, but Houston nearly erased its deficit in the third. After the Malemutes took a 10-point lead with 5:29 left in the third, the Hawks flew right back into the game with a 10-2 run. The Hawks hit a pair of three-pointers during the run. Sophomore Matt Barron knocked down a three to cut Lathrop’s lead to seven. Senior Scott Kramer buried one of his five three-pointers at the 2:32 mark to pull the Hawks within two.

That would be Lathrop’s smallest lead since its opening score of the game.

Senior Beau Frank also had a key rebound and put-back during the run.

“Our kids didn’t quit,” Porter said. “That’s one thing we take pride in our program. There’s a lot of pride in what we do.”

Kramer led the Hawks with 21 points in the loss. The senior hit 5 of 10 three-point attempts, and also grabbed three steals. Frank was also key, collecting 12 points and eight rebounds.

Frank, who was pulled inside after a pair of Houston posts started the game in foul trouble, was Houston’s top presence in the paint during the loss.

“There are three post players who see the floor much, and two were sitting the bench with foul trouble,” Porter said. “(Beau) battles and doesn’t fear contact. He knocked down some big shots, kept us in the game.”

Houston capped the season 13-9 and 3-3 in conference play, marks Porter is proud of.

“We’ve had a really great run for our program,” Porter said. “I’m proud of the kids and where we’re at. I think we can make some noise at regions.”

The MAC tourney starts Thursday at West Valley High School in Fairbanks.

Lathrop 60, Houston 46

Saturday, Houston High

Lathrop 15-15-14-16—60

Houston 11-12-12-11—46

Lathrop (60) — Washington 0 3-4 3, Cunningham 1 5-6 5, Green 1 0-0 2, Jennis 1 2-2 4, Carlson 5 0-0 12, Graham-Taylor 7 2-3 16, Gladden 7 2-2 16, Holland 0 2-2 2; Totals: 21 16-19 60.

Houston (46) — Barron 1 0-0 3, Frank 6 0-0 12, Kramer 7 2-2 21, Ruta 3 0-0 7, Richey 1 0-0 2, Pease 1 1-2 1; Totals: 18 3-4 46.

Three-point field goals: Lathrop 2 (Carlson 2), Houston 7 (Kramer 5); Total fouls: Lathrop 12, Houston 17.

Hawks 68, Patriots 38

HOUSTON — Sparked to a 16-7 first-quarter run, the Houston Hawks cruised to a 68-38 Mid-Alaska Conference win over the North Patriots at Houston High School on Friday.

Senior Scott Kramer scored points, and senior Phillip Pease collected 17 points and eight rebounds during the victory. Senior Russ Ruta led Houston with six steals.

Houston shot 45 percent from the field, and the Hawks defense forced 33 North Pole turnovers. The Hawks finished the season 2-0 against North Pole.

Houston 68, North Pole 38

Friday, Houston High

North Pole 7-16-6-11—38

Houston 16-19-17-16—68

North Pole (38) — Pauley 1 0-0 2, Campbell 2 2-2 6, Gibson 0 1-2 1, Millon 3 3-4 11, Steward 3 0-0 6, Garvin 1 0-0 3, Tucker 1 2-2 4, Christman 1 0-0 3, Reich 1 0-1 2; Totals: 13 8-11 38.

Houston (68) — Barron 0 1-2 1, Frank 3 1-2 8, Kramer 5 7-10 18, Taylor 0 2-2 2, Ruta 2 4-4 8, Richey 2 2-2 6, Kleewine 1 0-0 2, Stone-Jerik 2 2-3 6, Pease 6 5-8 17; Totals: 21 24-33 68.

Three-point field goals: North Pole 4 (Millson 2), Houston 2 (Kramer, Frank 1); Total fouls: North Pole 24, Houston 13.

Girls basketball

Malemutes 68, Hawks 29

HOUSTON — Lathrop scored 20 points in both the second and third quarters, and posted a 68-29 win over Houston at Houston High Saturday.

Senior Savanna James led Houston with nine points. Victoria Baybado added six for Houston.

Lathrop 68, Houston 29

Saturday, Houston High

Lathrop 12-20-20-16—68

Houston 6-6-7-10—29

Lathrop (68) — Angell 1 4-9 6, White 6 0-0 12, Allen 4 1-1 9, Kennedy 3 2-2 8, Lizotte 8 1-1 19, Poeschel 1 0-2 2, Taylor 2 5-7 9, Wolter 1 1-1 3; Totals: 26 14-23 68.

Houston (29) — James 4 1-1 9, Nida 1 1-1 4, Baybado 3 0-3 6, Shannon 2 0-2 4, Barber 1 0-1 2, Apangolook 1 0-0 2, Irvin 0 2-2 2; Totals: 12 4-12 29.

Three-point field goals: Lathrop 2 (Lizotte 2), Houston 1 (Nida 1); Total fouls: Lathorp 15, Houston 21.

Patriots 55, Hawks 30

HOUSTON — North Pole allowed only a pair of Houston points during the first quarter and scored a 55-30 Mid-Alaska Conference win over the Hawks Friday at Houston High.

Savanna James led the Hawks with 15 points. The senior finished 9 of 9 from the free-throw line.

North Pole 55, Houston 30

Friday, Houston High

North Pole 14-13-13-15—55

Houston 2-13-4-11—30

North Pole (55) — Smothers 1 3-5 5, Culver 2 0-0 4, Broderick 10 2-3 23, Wood 1 0-0 2, Croxen 5 0-1 13, Meisen 0 2-2 2, McCumby 3 0-0 6; Totals: 22 7-11 55

Houston (30) — Belanger 1 1-3 3, James 3 9-9 15, Baybado 1 0-0 2, Shannon 2 0-0 4, Wells 3 0-0 6; Totals: 10 10-12 30.

Three-point field goals: North Pole 4 (Croxen 3), Houston 0; Total fouls: North Pole 13, Houston 14.

Hawks 54, Eagle River 48

HOUSTON — The Houston Hawks scored a wild nonconference win over the Eagle River Wolves Thursday at Houston High.

Houston outscored the Wolves 20-5 in the third, but had to survive Eagle River’s 22-7 fourth-quarter run to get the win.

Savanna James led the Hawks with 15 points and 13 rebounds in the victory. Victoria Baybado also had a double-double, adding 10 points and 13 rebounds.

Houston 54, Eagle River 48

Thursday, Houston High

Eagle River 5-16-5-22—48

Houston 13-14-20-7—54

Eagle River (48) — Radliff 3 2-2 8, Coy 5 2-4 13, Crow 1 0-0 2, Frost 8 5-8 25; Totals: 17 9-15 48.

Houston (54) — Belanger 3 1-3 7, James 6 3-4 15, Nida 2 0-0 4, Baybado 4 2-2 10, Shannon 3 6-9 12, Wells 2 0-0 4, Irvin 1 0-0 2; Totals: 21 12-18 54.

Three-point field goals: North Pole 5 (Frost 4), Houston 0; Total fouls: Eagle River 13, Houston 19.