Class A, No. 3 Hauser tops Waldron to stay atop MHC standings

HOPE — Class A, No. 3 Hauser raced out to a 17-0 lead Friday over Waldron and cruised to an 82-55 Mid-Hoosier Conference win.

Stryker Gill and Gavin Keller each scored 21 points. Gill sank consecutive three-pointers midway through the third quarter just after the Mohawks cut the deficit to 12 points.

Gill’s two trifectas preceded a 3-point play by Kameron Blair, two more free throws from Blair, another 3 from Waylon Harper followed by an old fashioned 3-point play by Harper.

That pushed the Jets (12-2, 4-0 MHC) to a 68-47 lead after three quarters.

”We just didn’t come out ready to play,” said Waldron head coach Jeb Stewart. “When I was talking to the team, I could just see it in their eyes. Some of them were not locked in. We’ve had some sickness but that’s no excuse.

”We’ve made forward steps seven straight games. We took a step back today.”

R.J. Foster opened the game with a 3 then the next 14 points came at the rim off fast-break opportunities and offensive rebounds.

Waldron (8-5, 1-2 MHC) settled in and cut the lead to 20-7 at the first break.

Keller scored 10 points in the second quarter to produce a 41-23 lead at halftime.

Luke Myers gave the Mohawks a lift in the third quarter, scoring eight points to help cut the lead to 49-37 with just over four minutes left in the quarter.

”We wanted to come out in the third quarter and make a difference,” said Stewart. “We did. We cut it to 12 and their best player hits a 3.

”We knew he was going to go to it when a team makes a run. We have to have enough awareness not to let him make the next 3.”

Hauser entered the game shooting 35% from the arc but hit eight in the second half Friday, three by Gill in the third quarter, and finished with 10 in the game (10 of 21).

“We watch a lot of film and prepare. Every time they need a basket or their backs are against the wall or a team goes on a run, he will take the ball down the right side of the floor and he’s not going to stop,” said Stewart. “He is a very good player and a very good shooter.”

Blair finished with 13 points, six rebounds and four assists. Foster hit three 3s and ended with 11 points.

Myers topped Waldron with 13 points and three rebounds. Eli Stewart and Jackson Kuhn each scored 11. Stewart had a game-high seven rebounds.

Waldron was scheduled to play at Bethesda Christian (9-5) Saturday. That game has been rescheduled to Tuesday.