Kam Blair
HOPE — The Hauser boys basketball team is well on its way of capturing another Mid-Hoosier Conference title.
The Jets took off with an early lead and went on to post an 82-55 victory over Waldron Friday night to remain undefeated in the MHC.
Hauser blasted off to a 17-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game. The Mohawks finally got on the scoreboard and stopped the deficit from growing larger for the remainder of the first half. The Jets had a 41-23 lead at the break.
“I thought the intensity and focus was fantastic on the defensive end to start the game. We just have to sustain that for the full first half, the full 16 minutes,” Hauser coach Trent Moorhead said. “They saw a couple shots go in, and they got to the free-throw line. We had some shots that didn’t go in. We gave them a little bit of momentum there late-first and beginning of the second quarter. I thought the energy was great. We have to continue sustaining that after the full 16 minutes of the first half.”
The only time Waldron (8-5, 1-2) really threatened the Jets (12-2, 4-0) was in the third quarter when the lead was cut to 49-37 with four minutes left in the third quarter. Stryker Gill then hit back-to-back 3-point baskets, and Kam Blair converted a 3-point-play for a 9-0 run to grow the lead back to 58-37.
That was as close the Mohawks would get. Hauser grew the lead to 79-51 halfway through the fourth quarter until the starters were pulled.
“This team has shown the ability to respond to some adversity. In the third quarter, we had that,” Moorhead said. “Stryker Gill did a great job of stepping up and making some shots to extend our lead back, but we also locked in defensively. So a little adversity there in the third quarter, we responded really well, and that’s really been a trait of this team.”
Gill finished with 21 points, three rebounds and four assists; and Gavin Keller also had 21 points and added five rebounds and four assists. Kam Blair finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists; and RJ Foster added 11 points, two rebounds and two assists.
“We have anybody that can score double-digits,” Blair said. “Everybody is passing the ball. Everybody is on their shot. Everybody is in the game. It’s really fun to play with, and I’m sure it is fun to watch.”
The Jets were scheduled to play Rising Sun Saturday night, but the game was postponed due to the impending winter storm that is expected to sweep across Indiana this weekend.
Hauser 82, Waldron 55
Waldron;7;16;24;8;—;55
Hauser;20;21;27;14;—;82
Waldron (8-5, 1-2): Hartman 0 0-0 0, Dodson 0 0-0 0, Fischer 0 0-0 0, Kuhn 5 0-1 11, Moody 0 0-0 0, Crouch 0 0-0 0, Sheaffer 2 0-0 6, Stewart 4 1-2 9, Mitchell 1 0-0 2, Myers 4 7-7 16, Smith 2 0-0 4, Campbell 1 3-4 5. Totals: 19 11-14 55.
Hauser (12-2, 4-0): Tyler Deiwert 1 0-0 3, RJ Foster 4 0-0 11, Gavin Keller 10 1-2 21, Bill Miller 0 0-0 0, Stryker Gill 7 3-5 21, Joel Bechtel 3 1-2 7, Kam Blair 4 5-6 13, Jacob Bell 0 0-0 0, Waylon Harper 2 0-0 6, Jake Barriger 0 0-0 0. Totals: 31 10-15 82.
3-point goals: Waldron 4 (Sheaffer 2, Kuhn, Myers). Hauser 10 (Gill 4, Foster 3, Harper 2, Deiwert).
