PAXTON — It was business as usual in the rivalry known as Paxton School-Laurel Hill School boys basketball on Friday.
In a game of streaks, the Bobcats had the first streak and the finishing streak to take a 75-63 District 1-1A win.
Paxton got off to a fast start opening the game with an 11-0 run in the first 75 seconds. The Bobcats led the rest of the way although the Hoboes refused to go quietly into the warm late fall night.
“We dug a hole early and I’m proud of the kids the way they dig back out of it,” Hobo coach Kent Zessin said. “We just focused on chipping away and keeping focus on what we need to do and we did that. We made some big shots, some key shots.
“The difference of the game was right there early. And they finished strong there at the end of the first half. It was the typical Laurel Hill-Paxton game.”
Jack Hamilton opened things up for Paxton hitting a pair of 3-point baskets sandwiched around a 3-pointer by Grant Stewart. The six points were Hamilton’s only points of the game, but they set the tone for Paxton (11-0, 7-0).
Zach Varnum, who led Paxton in scoring, finished the early run with a pair of free threes.
Bryson Cooper, who led the Hoboes in scoring with 25 points, stopped the Bobcat run with a 3-point basket of his own,
Two more Varnum free throws and a basket by Woodrow Myles pushed the Bobcat lead to 15-3. Laurel Hill closed the quarter with an 8-3 run to make the score 18-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Bobcat Coach Jeff Bradley credited the quick start to Paxton’s success.
“Any time you get in a rival it’s huge to get some breathing room,” he said. “They are going to make their run. They have super kids.
“Both the (Cooper) brothers are good. And then the Gordon (Cam) kid knocked down some big shots there at the end. Any time we can get that cushion it’s good.”
The Hoboes never got closer than seven the rest of the night as Varnum and Bryson Cooper traded baskets to open the second quarter.
Hunter Allen hit a pair of 3-pointers to push the Bobcat lead back to double figures.
Paxton led 45-25 at the half.
A Garrett Bodie 3-pointer early in the third quarter gave the Bobcats their biggest lead of the night at 48-25.
The Hoboes refused to go away with Bryson Cooper leading the charge.
A Mason Cooper basket with 5:08 left in the game cut the Bobcat lead to 11 points. Bryson Cooper scored on a 3-point play with 4:11 left in the game to get the Hoboes to within nine points of the Bobcats.
Cam Gordon helped the Laurel Hill run hitting three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, but it was too little too late for the Hoboes.
Gordon joined Bryson Cooper in double figures with 16 points for the Hoboes (3-4, 1-3).
Stewart, 13 points and Bodie, 16 points also scored in double figures for Paxton.
Laurel Hill 11 14 16 22 – 63
Paxton 18 27 12 18 – 75
LAUREL HILL (63)
T.J White 5, Reise Edge 4, Mason Cooper 7, Dakota Bly 2, Cam Gordon 15, Sam Durm 4, Mason Cooper 25. Totals 16 7 10-17 63.
PAXTON (75)
Jack Hamilton 6, Hunter Allen 6, Woodrow Myles 6, Garrett Bodie 16, Grant Stewart 13, Zach Varnum 30. Totals 13 10 19-26 75.
Laurel Hill-Paxton basketball box
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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Paxton holds off Laurel Hill (PHOTOS)