By JUSTIN BURKHARDT
TopSports.news
Hayden boys basketball entered the Baldwin Invitational coming off a 3-point loss to Manhattan and was looking to get something started as they would face defending Class 3A state champ Wellsville in Round 1.
Sophomore Mason Becker led Hayden with 20 points in Saturday's 63-49 win over Baldwin as the Wildcats captured the tournament title. [File photo/TSN]
The Wildcats topped the Eagles 63-50 and never looked back, rolling to a 74-34 win over Augusta in the second round and capping their tournament run with a 63-49 win over host Baldwin, No. 4-ranked in Class 4A, in Saturday's finale.
Baldwin would have nothing for the Wildcats as the championship game was all Hayden.
The Wildcats would go up 14-8 after the first quarter and roll behind their sharp shooting 5-foot-11 sophomore guard Mason Becker, who would finish the night with 20 points while shooting 5-6 from 3-point range.
“I really love our group, I am not surprised at all with Mason,'' Hayden coach Dwayne Anthony said. "Earlier in the year we were coming off some football legs, is what I call it, and I saw how my guys played and worked with each other. I knew it was a matter of time before the ball goes into the basket.''
Senior James Kuta (3) scored 19 points to help Hayden top Baldwin 63-49 in the final of the Baldwin Invitational. [File photo/TSN]
Junior Connor Hanika (5) scored 15 points in Saturday's 63-49 Hayden win over Baldwin. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden would also get a huge night from their two post players in 6-3 senior James Kuta and 6-4 junior Connor Hanika, who would have 19 and 15 points respectively.
“I am not surprised with Kuta, he has been creeping at the door, he does so many of the hard work things for us,'' Anthony said. "He rebounds, rebounds, rebounds, and is starting to get settled into his offensive game where he puts those right back in the hoop.”
“I thought I played hard,'' Kuta said. "I missed a couple layups, but I also made a lot and just hard defense all over, and I made sure I got the rebounds when I could and do whatever I could to help our team win today.”
“Kuta is a big time player, he does all the dirty work and tonight had some big time threes,'' Becker said. "But Kuta is a hard worker and with him and Hanika down low, it is tough to stop.”
The Wildcats would roll to a 31-20 halftime lead and the Bulldogs were still down 11 going into the fourth quarter, which would see the Wildcats outscore them 17-14 to take the 14-point win.
“My team was locked in and they executed the game plan,'' Anthony said. "They brought a lot of passion, they executed the game plan and if they continue to execute the things that we discussed, they're going to continue to have good success. Hats off to Baldwin, they are a very talented group.
“I was so glad to be here in this tournament so we can see where we are with other schools in our class that we might see in the postseason, and I am thankful for the Centennial League and I know we will be competitive in the second half of league play coming up.”
“It means a lot as a team,'' Kuta said of Saturday's title. "We all work hard for this, we all wanted this, we are all family, like coach says all the time. It just means a lot that out work is showing off and that was nice to get some buckets, but just getting a win at the end, that is all that matters.”
Mason Becker on the win and his play: “Our team really came to play tonight, everyone stayed within themselves and ultimately hit some big-time shots, which helped keep the momentum going. I’m really proud of our team tonight and a big win against a talented Baldwin team.”
The Bulldogs got a big game from their star, junior Cooper Carr, who would lead all scorers with 26 points.
The Wildcats placed three players on the all-tournament team with Becker, Hanika and Kuta.
The Wildcats will be in action next on Wednesday at Emporia in a boys only game, with the varsity at 6 p.m.
HAYDEN BOYS 63, BALDWIN 49
Hayden 14 17 15 17 - - 63
Baldwin 8 12 15 14 - - 49
Hayden (7-5) -- Becker 7-10 1-2 20, Kuta 8-12 1-1 19, Hanika 5-9 4-4 15, Deister 2-5 0-0 5, Mitchell 1-7 0-0 2, Wolff 1-1 0-0 2, Zweisler 0-2 0-0 0, Compton 0-3 0-0 0, Heinen 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-50 6-7 63.
Baldwin (8-2) -- Carr 10-16 3-3 26, Schoenberger 3-8 1-6 8, Collum 1-5 2-2 4, Smasal 1-4 0-0 3, Scott 0-6 0-0 0, Rood 2-2 0-0 6, Mclaughlin 1-3 0-0 2, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-44 6-11 49.
3-point goals -- Hayden 9 (Becker 5, Kuta 2, Deister, Hanika), Baldwin 7 (Carr 3, Rood 2, Smasal, Schoenberger). Total fouls -- Hayden 15, Baldwin 14. Fouled out -- none.
