Houghton's Alex Hebert tries to work the ball past Jeffers' Brexton Kinnunen during a game Tuesday at the Houghton High School gym. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — A strong start by the Houghton Gremlins boys basketball team set the tone for a 63-50 win against the visiting Jeffers Jets Tuesday.

The Gremlins shot out to a 10-2 lead in the opening minutes and increased that to 22-4 after one. They never looked back from there.

“We did a great job coming out in the first and following through the second and third,” said Gremlins coach Jared Lawson. “We let up a little in the fourth, and lost some momentum, but we did not lose our composure. We know who we are and what we are capable of.”

An 18-point difference after one morphed into a 22-point lead (34-12) for the Gremlins at half time.

While the Jets (9-11) won the third by three (12-9), and the fourth by six (26-20), they could not catch the Gremlins and their smooth style of play.

It was senior night for the Houghton boys. Among the upperclassmen honored were Jack Cooke, Henry Lounibos, Jonah Falker and Mason Mayo.

“These four have been in our program all four years. In this their final season they’ve been fantastic as leaders and all are good kids,” Lawson said. “I am very proud of them both as players and young men ready to face the world. Game ball goes to them.”

Terry Nolan once again led the scoring for the Gremlins with 24 points. He was 9-10 at the free throw line. Alex Hebert followed with 19,and Mayo had 10.

For the Jets, Levi Kinnunen had 15 points. Landon Larson sunk 14.

Up next

The Gremlins (15-5) wrapped up their regular season on Thursday with a game against Westwood. District play starts Monday in Escanaba.

The Jets will close out their regular season against Ewen Trout-Creek on Friday.