Currie VanHorn scored 14 of his game-high 16 points in the first half to lead the Houston eighth grade boys’ basketball team past Willow Springs 34-23 in the third-place game of the Houston Tournament.
Kevin Dunn scored seven points and Rodney Preheim had five for the Tigers, who outscored the Bears 10-3 in the second quarter for a 22-13 halftime lead.
In the semifinals, Dunn led Houston with 10 points in a 58-34 loss to Mountain Grove.
The Tigers, who got seven points apiece from VanHorn and Preheim, were out-scored 17-8 in the first quarter and never recovered.
In the first round and season opener, VanHorn hit a pair of 3-pointers en route to 18 points as the Tigers rallied past Mountain View-Liberty 36-28.
Houston, which trailed 12-7 at the half, scored 29 second-half points for its first win of the season. Preheim scored 10 and Chris Moore chipped in four.
Houston 12 10 8 4 – 34
Willow Springs 10 3 6 4 – 23
HOUSTON (2-1) – VanHorn 7 1-1 16. Huff 2 0-1 4. Dunn 3 1-2 7. Preheim 2 1-6 5. Kelly 1 0-0 2. Moore 0 0-2 0. Craig 0 0-2 0. Totals 15 3-4 34.
3-pointers: Houston 1 (VanHorn); Willow Springs 2.
Houston 8 8 14 4 – 34
Mtn. Grove 17 12 17 12 – 58
HOUSTON (1-1) – VanHorn 3 0-0 7. Huff 1 0-0 2. Dunn 5 0-0 10. Preheim 3 1-2 7. Kelly 2 0-0 4. Moore 1 0-0 2. Craig 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 1-2 34.
3-pointers: Houston 1 (VanHorn); Mtn. Grove 1.
Houston 6 1 13 16 – 36
Liberty 8 4 8 8 – 28
HOUSTON (1-0) – VanHorn 6 4-5 18. Dunn 1 0-0 2. Preheim 5 0-3 10. Moore 1 3-4 4. Ashworth 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 6-11 36.
3-pointers: Houston 2 (VanHorn); Liberty 0.
