Rod Gorman knew the details. So did his players. Forty-two consecutive conference losses for the Houston boys’ basketball program.

“It is something we’ve talked about,” Gorman said. “We knew the streak was there. We knew what the number was. I don’t know if that adds pressure or motivation. A little of both probably.”

Well, now it’s over.

The Tigers ended six years of futility Friday night with their first South Central Association victory since Jan. 29, 2013. HHS rallied from an early deficit and was clutch at the free-throw line down the stretch to knock off Cabool 54-42 inside Hiett Gymnasium.

In front of a big crowd for a quadrupleheader of hoops on ‘Pink Out’ night to raise funds for Houston Schools employee Chris Maddox’s fight against cancer, the Tigers celebrated at halfcourt with the student section after snapping the SCA skid.

“I’m glad that streak is over,” Gorman said.

HHS junior guards Clayton Moore and Kyler Ramsey led the way offensively with 17 and 16 points, respectively. Both were 9-for-12 at the foul line. Sterling Jackson added seven points off the bench.

The Tigers’ eighth win of the season eclipsed last year’s total and is the program’s most since winning 10 games in 2009-10.

Cabool, which had won seven straight regular-season matchups between the Texas County schools, led 11-8 after the opening quarter and by as many as six points in the second.

The Tigers trailed 16-10 when Jackson provided a much-needed spark off the bench. The junior forward scored five straight points – a jumper, free throw and layin – to ignite a 13-3 run as HHS turned the deficit into a four-point halftime advantage.

Gorman said Jackson had approached him the previous day about his playing time. The veteran coach said he told Jackson to wait for his opportunity and the right matchup. It came the next day.

“Sterling came in and just played awesome for us,” Gorman said. “He has a knack to get it in the basket.”

Houston extended its advantage by scoring 14 of the third-quarter’s 19 points, highlighted by a 10-0 run to end the frame. Ramsey hit a jumper, triple and knocked down a pair of free throws as part of the spurt as HHS led 37-24.

“We go as he goes,” Gorman said of Ramsey. “He’s the engine that makes us go for sure.”

Cabool (6-13) pulled within six points with five minutes remaining. But Jackson hit a jumper to slow the Bulldogs’ 9-2 run and Houston went 8-for-9 at the line in the final three minutes to close out the victory.

With the conference skid over, the Tigers (8-14, 1-2 SCA) have four more opportunities to finish the season to get another SCA win. They have road games at Ava, Willow Springs and Salem before hosting Mountain Grove to conclude the regular season.

“With two losses we know we probably can’t win it, but we want to be a factor in this league,” Gorman said. “We want someone else to be mad at Houston because we put a loss on them. We have four opportunities, and we’re going to fight like heck.”

On Thursday, Thayer outscored HHS 25-10 in the second half to break a 28-all tie and pull away for a 53-38 win.

Moore led Houston with 17 points. Ty Franklin added 12.

JUNIOR VARSITY: Dalton Dzurick and Jacob Moseley scored 12 points apiece as the JV Tigers edged Cabool 51-50 on Friday.

Jackson added nine for Houston, which led 24-15 at the half.

PHOTOS FROM GAME

BOX SCORES

VARSITY

Friday’s game

Cabool 11 8 5 18 – 42

Houston 8 15 14 17 – 54

HOUSTON (54) – Kyler Ramsey 16. Clayton Moore 17. Dakota Burchett 6. Ty Franklin 6. Jaekan Moss 2. Sterling Jackson 7. FG 15. FT 23-32. F 21. (3-pointers: Ramsey. Fouled out: none).

Thursday’s game

Thayer 18 10 14 11 – 53

Houston 14 14 4 6 – 38

HOUSTON (38) – Kyler Ramsey 6. Connor Wilson 1. Clayton Moore 17. Ty Franklin 12. Korbyn Tune 2. FG 12. FT 6-9. F 24. (3-pointers: Moore 5, Franklin 2, Ramsey. Fouled out: Ramsey, Wilson).

JUNIOR VARSITY

Friday’s game

Cabool 6 9 16 19 – 50

Houston 14 10 13 14 – 51

HOUSTON (51) – Dalton Dzurick 12. Evan Fisher 3. Kyle Mills 4. Tristan Leier 6. Tanner Lee 1. Jacob Moseley 12. Sterling Jackson 9. FG 18. FT 6-18. F 20. (3-pointers: Dzurick 3, Fisher. Fouled out: none).