Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Kerens’ Muziq Gunnell shoots a 3-pointer versus Hubbard in Jan. 31’s District 18-2A game.

KERENS–The Kerens Bobcats continued to shine in District 18-2A play Jan. 31 by beating the Hubbard Jaguars, 64-23, on Senior Night.
Eight seconds into the game, senior Muziq Gunnell hit a 3-pointer, then Zakoryian Hamilton grabbed a steal and made a bucket to extend the Kerens lead to 5-0. That lead eventually went to 9-0 behind a Gunnell assist to Leland Combs for a layup. Halfway through the first period, Hubbard got on the scoreboard with a 3-pointer, then added another 3-point shot to reduce Kerens’ lead to 9-6 with 3:39 left in the first.
After Hubbard’s two 3-pointers, Kerens response was highlighted by a Bryce Lincoln steal and basket, Jachi Rooks rolling in a free throw, a Layton Bunch steal and bucket and a Rooks steal and hoop, all of which had the Bobcats in front 18-6 at the end of the first period.
Rooks added another hoop with 7:07 left in the second period for a 20-6 Kerens lead. Nineteen seconds later, freshman Ja’Darrius Peters scored after collecting an offensive rebound, which Hubbard answered with another 3-pointer. Kerens added another basket for a 24-9 lead, then Bunch found Peters for a hoop with 5:34 remaining in the second to make it 26-9. Twenty-one seconds after that, Peters scored again after grabbing another offensive rebound for a 28-9 Bobcat advantage.
Bunch brought it to 30-9 following a basket underneath, with Peters scoring again for a 32-9 Kerens margin. Gunnell grabbed his own miss and followed with a basket for a 34-9 lead, after which Gunnell made a steal and added a bucket to make it 36-9. Gunnell’s steal and pass to Hamilton for a hoop with 1:33 left in the first half put Kerens comfortably in charge at intermission, 38-9.
Gunnell started Kerens’ second-half scoring as he did in the first, this time audibly popping a 3-pointer for a 41-9 Kerens lead. Kerens built a 45-9 advantage based on Gunnell and Bunch buckets, which Hubbard cut to 45-13 at the end of the third period.
Gunnell’s steal and breakaway basket with 7:32 left in the fourth period made it 47-13 in favor of the Bobcats, after which Bunch swished a 3-pointer with 6:20 left in the fourth to allow the Bobcats to lead 50-15. Hamiton had a 3-pointer with 3:15 left in the game, D’Majaion Allen drove for a basket with 2:37 remaining and Hamilton rattled in a 3-pointer with 33.6 seconds left in the contest to highlight Kerens’ scoring for the remainder of the romp.
Hamiton and Gunnell led Kerens with 14 points apiece, followed by Peters’ 10 points. Bunch scored 9 points, Combs had 6 points, Rooks added 5 points while Lincoln, Allen and Isaiah Carter each contributed 2 points.