HOOKS, Texas -- Hooks controlled the game.
The Hornets' boys basketball team raced past Liberty-Eylau, 86-47, in a varsity game at Hornet Gym on Tuesday.
"We started off really slow; it took us a while to get our first bucket," Hooks head coach Michael Jackson said. "After that, we played really well. Our defense was good, we rebounded well and we got a lot of steals. We shared the ball and shot the ball really well.
"I was proud of our shooting. In some games, we shoot really well, in others we don't. I was impressed with our shooting tonight. A bunch of people hit threes and some hit multiple threes; that is good because it opens up the floor for everyone else."
Ranson Jones hit a short shot early in the fourth quarter in what would be the first bucket of an 11-0 Hornet run. Romeo Minter drove in for a layup then hit a putback. Boogie Johnson knocked down a shot from 3-point land and connected on a pair of charity shots to give Hooks a 79-40 lead after the run.
Liberty-Eylau's Cadien Proctor drove in for a layup to end the Hornet's run.
Hooks built a 68-40 lead by the end of the third quarter. The Hornets went on a 17-5 run to finish the third period with Carveion Johnson hitting a pair of 3-pointers along the way. Carveion Johnson finished as the game's high scorer with 19 points.
The Leopards battled throughout but errors and turnovers led to a stark contrast of scoring between the teams. Hooks outscored Liberty-Eylau in each quarter, 16-10, 26-17, 26-13 and 18-7, respectively.
Emmanuel Baird connected on three treys and scored on a 4-foot jumper to pace the Hornets in the second quarter. Baird finished the game with 11 points, all in the second. One of Baird's treys was sank from five feet behind the 3-point line. Hooks went into the locker room at the half with a big 42-27 edge.
The first quarter was the most competitive of the game, with the Hornets building a 16-10 advantage. Kadrean Blaylock paced the Leopards with four points in the first. Blaylock's points came on two free throw shots and a layup. Blaylock finished with a team-high 12 points.
Liberty-Eylau's DC Colvin led all players with 12 rebounds, while teammate J'Barri Tatum was second overall with nine boards.
Boogie Johnson swished in 13 points and pulled down eight rebounds for Hooks, while teammate Keyshawn Walls had 12 points.