Prep boys' hoops: Hawks post first win of season in Florida

Jan. 5, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

The Houston boys' basketball squad traveled across the country to participate in the KSA Holiday Classic in Orlando, Fla., last week, and the Hawks found a good way to end their trip.

Houston scored its first win of the season.

The Hawks edged Fort Cherry (Pa.) High School 51-49 in the seventh-place game of their bracket.

&#8220It was a good close game. It was fun,” Houston head coach David Porter said after returning to Alaska.

Porter said the Hawks were able to maintain a lead for the entire game. In the final minutes, Houston prevented Fort Cherry from making any sort of a comeback.

Key to the win, Porter said, was his team's ability to work the systems in the game. Porter said his athletes are beginning to consider factors such as time remaining and score more when running their systems.

Houston senior Donovan Parker was named to the all-tournament team. With the honor, Parker earned a $250 college scholarship.

Parker was recognized, but Porter said his team sported a well-rounded effort. The scoring was balanced, and Houston got production from both its post and perimeter players.

Houston suffered a pair of close losses in the tournament before getting its win. Beachwood (Ohio) made its free throws down the stretch to ice a 60-49 win over Houston in the first round. Beachwood eventually advanced to the championship game of the bracket.

In the consolation semifinals, Mount Pisgah (Ga.) edged Houston 48-45. Mount Pisgah and Houston were tied with 20 seconds remaining in regulation.

&#8220We were right there, throughout the whole tournament,” Porter said. &#8220We just as easily could have been in the championship game, as the consolation bracket.”

Porter said the teams in Houston's bracket were pretty comparable to the teams the Hawks face in Alaska.

&#8220Very similar. I definitely think it was 3A basketball,” Porter said.

The KSA Holiday Classic features four brackets for both the boys and the girls.

In addition to playing in the tournament, the Houston players had the opportunity to visit a theme park and catch an NBA game. The Hawks saw the Orlando Magic take on the Miami Heat.

Porter said the Houston boys' basketball program raised about $30,000 to fund the trip.

The team participate in a variety of fund-raisers, and received tremendous support from the community, Porter said.

&#8220I'm just amazed. A lot of people said this couldn't be done at Houston,” Porter said. &#8220We owe (the community) a huge thanks.”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.