Coach Chris Whitwer's Bears were better from the start Tuesday night.
The Blair boys basketball team opened its home game against Hastings with a 7-0 run and never trailed, winning 57-37. BHS improved to 5-3 in its final game before the holiday break, while the visiting Tigers dropped to 1-4.
Nolan Slominski started the home squad's scoring with a corner 3-pointer before the Bears' full-court press earned the ball back immediately. Hastings was unable to cross the line at mid-court in 10 seconds and Slominski tallied his second bucket as a result.
Blair's lead then reached seven points when Crayton Macholan pulled up on a fast break and hit a short jumper.
Greyson Kay — who'd finish with a team-best 15 points — scored the Bears' next bucket, and J'Shawn Unger made the one after that. Elijah Morgan later turned an offensive rebound into points at the 13-4 mark.
Bo Meier's first score put the home team ahead 15-7 before Kay capped the 18-10 first quarter with a 3-point make.
Hastings was able to pull within 23-18 during the second period, but it was unable to maintain its success. Slominski's second 3 of the game pushed his first-half point total to 10 before Kay, again, closed out scoring for the 8-minute quarter.
All-in-all, BHS led by 10 at the half, 30-20, and improved on its lead from there. In addition to Kay's 15 points, Slominski totaled 13 and Macholan scored 10 during the 20-point victory.
The Tigers' Caden Block led his squad with 10 points.
Coach Whitwer's Bears squad next competes in its home holiday tournament Dec. 29-30. Games between Aurora, Omaha Gross, Elkhorn Mount Michael and BHS start at 11 a.m. on the first day back to competition.
BLAIR BASKETBALL LINE SCORE
Tuesday
Blair 57, Hastings 37
HHS (1-4) 10 10 5 12 — 37
BHS (5-3) 18 12 12 15 — 57
Scoring: BHS — Greyson Kay 15, Nolan Slominski 13, Crayton Macholan 10, Bo Meier 8, Bo Nielsen 5, Eli Morgan 4, J'Shawn Unger 2.
HHS — Caden Block 10, Eli Schneider 8, Aaron Nonneman 4, Kooper Kohl 4, Landon Hinrichs 3, Braydon Power 3, Jackson Block 3, Trevor Campbell 2.
