Houston’s first victory was a decisive one.
The Tigers raced ahead of Niangua 22-4 Friday night and cruised to a 68-34 victory in the consolation bracket of the Mansfield Invitational.
Kobe Sutton scored a team-best 17 points and Skylur Malam added 13 for Houston.
In the consolation finals on Saturday, HHS couldn’t hang onto an early seven-point advantage and lost 48-38 to Norwood.
Malam led the Tigers with nine points. Sutton and Kolby Walker added seven apiece.
In the opening round last Tuesday, Sutton and Dylan Hooper scored 10 points apiece in the Tigers’ 71-56 loss to third-seeded Bakersfield.
BOX SCORES
Saturday’s game
| Houston   |  18   |  6   |  8   |  6   |  –   |  38   |
| Norwood   |  11  |  14   |  12   |  11   |  –   |  48 |
HOUSTON (38) – Nathan Poynter 6. Lucas Kelley 5. Skylur Malam 9. Kolby Walker 7. Kobe Sutton 7. Keegan Spurlin 4. FG 17. FT 6-14. F 15. (3-pointers: Malam, Sutton. Fouled out: none).
Friday’s game
| Houston    |  22   |  12   |  14   |  20   |  –   |  68   |
| Niangua     |  4 |  13   |  11 |  6 |  – |  34 |
HOUSTON (68) – Dylan Hooper 3. Nathan Poynter 9. Lucas Kelley 6. Caleb Adkison 5. Kobe Sutton 17. Skylur Malam 13. Kolby Walker 6. Ty Wilkins 4. Keegan Spurlin 6. FG 28. FT 7-16. F 14. (3-pointers: Kelley 2, Malem 2, Hooper, Sutton. Fouled out: none).
Last Tuesday’s game
| Houston    |  16   |  18   |  10   |  12   |  –   |  56   |
|  Bakersfield   |  25 |  12 |  19 |  15 |  – |  71 |
HOUSTON (56) – Dylan Hooper 10. Nathan Poynter 8. Kobe Sutton 10. Skylur Malam 7. Kolby Walker 11. Ty Wilkins 7. Keegan Spurlin 2. FG 19. FT 9-16. F 13. (3-pointers: Walker 3, Hooper 2, Poynter 2, Sutton 2, Malam. Fouled out: none).