ROUND ROCK — The Hutto Hippos boys varsity basketball team (7-10, 1-2 district) dropped an 82-48 decision to the Round Rock Westwood Warriors on Friday, Dec. 19.
Hutto struggled to find consistency on the offensive end, shooting just 36 percent from the field against a disciplined Westwood defense that applied pressure throughout the night. The Hippos fell behind early, trailing 14-5 in the opening quarter as scoring opportunities were hard to come by.
Hutto showed signs of life midway through the first quarter when Jaeden Hanley knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 19-10, but Westwood quickly responded. The Warriors closed the half on a 22-12 run, extending their advantage to 41-22 by halftime.
Westwood put the game out of reach in the third quarter, opening with a strong surge to build a 56-34 lead. The Warriors continued to control the tempo on both ends of the floor, limiting Hutto’s transition chances and forcing tough shots in the half court.
Despite the loss, the Hippos received solid two-way efforts from Brian Caldwell and Jerrel Hanley, who provided energy on both offense and defense. Hutto, however, struggled in the paint and on the glass, where Westwood held a decisive 39-25 rebounding advantage. The Hippos will now enter the holiday break before returning to action Dec. 29 at the Glenn Tournament, where Hutto will look to regroup and build momentum heading into district play.
Hutto Hippos senior guard Brian Caldwell scores during a regular season game versus the Manor Mustangs. Photo by Tim Walter
