BOYS BASKETBALL: Houston’s 29 Points Sparks Northeast to Win over East

LINCOLN–(KFOR Jan. 3)–It took about a quarter-and-a-half for the Lincoln Northeast boys basketball team to get things in gear and attack the basket when the three-point shot wasn’t falling.

The Rockets outscored Lincoln East 27-14 in the second quarter to take control and later used a 14-2 fourth quarter run to finish the game and earn a 73-51 victory over Lincoln East Thursday night at the Ed Johnson Gym.

Northeast (5-2) was led by Lazerek Houston’s game-high 29 points, 19 of which came in the second half to keep the Rockets ahead of East the rest of the game. Junior guard Easton Switzer connected on three, three-pointers and added 15 points for Northeast and Grant Fredericks added 11 points in the winning effort. The victory for the Rockets was on the heels of a 75-56 setback last Thursday to ratings contender Kearney.

East initially led 11-6 in the first quarter behind scoring efforts from Evan Peterson, Elliott Johnson, Jack Lowell and Hudson Grau.

Northeast went to a zone defensively which resulted in some forced turnovers and key baskets. Fredericks benefited off a steal from Houston and went up with a one-hand dunk, then Houston forced another turnover and broke away for his own dunk to put the Rockets up 33-25 at halftime.

East (2-6) used a quick 6-0 spurt to start the second half, behind a basket from Nolan O’Neill and after a technical foul was assessed by Houston, O’Neill hit one of two free throws. The Spartans later got a three-pointer from Tyler Mick that cut the Rocket lead to 33-31 with 4:54 remaining in the third quarter. Houston then sparked a 15-9 Northeast run to finish the quarter.

Grau led the Spartans with 14 points and Lowell finished with 12 points.

Click the link below for the podcast of the game.

Boys Basketball: Lincoln East at Lincoln Northeast 1-2-25