ANDREW SALMI andrew.salmi@granitemedia partners.com
AUSTIN — The Hutto High School boys varsity basketball team under Head Coach Gant Caraway fought hard all night Dec. 5 as the Hippos came from behind on multiple occasions for a 72-59 victory on the road against the Mavericks of Austin McNeil High School.
The Hippos faced a 20-10 deficit after the first quarter to the Mavericks but started to get it going offensively with a 26-14 run as Hutto led McNeil 36-34 at halftime. After the Mavericks took a 51-48 lead at the end of the third quarter, the Hippos again kicked it into gear on offense as Hutto outscored McNeil 24-8 in the fourth
quarter for the win.
Hutto was led on the night by junior Cylin Tate with a team-high 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting and six rebounds.
Hippos senior Byron Piper also went off for 20 points with four three-pointers made, four assists, three rebounds and two steals.
Also scoring in double figures for the Hippos was junior Jacob Bell with 14 points on 6-of-12 shots from the field, a team-high seven assists, four steals and three rebounds. Hutto senior Dylan Patrick finished with seven points and seven rebounds, while fellow senior Zachary Hicks had four points with a team-high 12 rebounds and three steals in the win over McNeil.
After the Hippos finish their competition over the weekend at the New Braunfels Tournament, Hutto will be off until Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. as the Hippos are set to host the Knights of Harker Heights High School in the 6A-District 12 opener for both teams.
Photos by Larry Pelchat
