Hiawatha Avenges Only Loss of Season to Troy in Opening Round of Thunder Classic

The Hiawatha boys basketball team opened play at the 12th annual Thunder Classic on Tuesday night with an impressive 64-41 victory over Troy.

With the win, the Redhawks improved to 11-1 on the season and moved up to No. 6 in Class 3A in the latest Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA) rankings. The victory also served as a measure of redemption, as Troy handed Hiawatha its only loss of the season earlier in December, an 87-85 double-overtime setback.

Hiawatha gradually built a lead in the first half and took a 32-21 advantage into halftime. The Redhawks then pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Trojans 32-20 over the final two quarters to secure the win.

Braylen Siebenmorgen led Hiawatha with a dominant performance, finishing with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Lane Kesler added 11 points and six rebounds, while Ethan Morton chipped in 10 points.

Troy fell to 8-5 on the season with the loss. The Trojans were led by Henry Geiger, who recorded 16 points and eight rebounds, while Kaston Jasper contributed 14 points.