Coming off a season in which it made a run to the state semifinals and bringing back four of the five starters from last year, Hawken has high expectations for running it back this season. The Hawks’ experience paid dividends in an 81-68 victory at host Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin on Dec. 5, their third straight to start the season. Senior Daron Hill paced three players in double figures with 31 points. But the thing that impressed Hawken coach Anthony Burns the most was the way his team weathered a 9-0 run by the Lions coming out of halftime, that cut a 40-26 lead down to 40-35. The Hawks’ speed and athleticism, as well as familiarity with each other on the court, proved to be the difference as Hawken was able to stretch its lead back out to double digits in the fourth quarter. @hawkenboyshoops Coach Anthony Burns breaks down the Hawks’ 81-68 win over NDCL pic.twitter.com/xNf5fuHIjq — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) December 6, 2025 “The leadership, the growth,” Burns cited as keys to his squad’s victory. “In the second half, those guys made an amazing run. We knew that they would, especially being at home. The biggest thing I’m happy about with our guys is that they stay composed and handled adversity.” NDCL (0-2), which returned just two starters from last season, kept pace with Hawken in the first quarter, trailing just 16-13. Six-foot-6 senior center Brendan Hernan scored eight points in the opening frame for the Lions. But Hill seemingly could not miss for Hawken. He poured in 20 points in the first half, including four triples. @hawkenboyshoops senior Daron Hill (game-high 31 points) talks about Hawken’s 81-68 win over NDCL, and the Hawks’ 3-0 start to the season pic.twitter.com/XBbvLNZgln — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) December 6, 2025 “I love it, honestly,” the 6-foot-4 Hill said regarding his role as a go-to scorer for the Hawks. “My teammates believe in me, they hype me up and get me going. I do the same for them.” NDCL junior Wesley Jacobson scored on a putback and added another basket off a turnover to give the Lions what would be their only lead of the game at 17-16. Hawken responded with a blistering 22-4 run, paced by the hot hand of Hill, who hit three of his treys during the spurt, and sophomore Tommy Grajzl, who chipped in eight points along with three boards and a steal off the bench. NDCL played with considerable energy coming out of halftime. Hernan, who had picked up his third foul with two minutes left in the second quarter, converted a pair of layups, senior Luke Keep added a bucket, and Jacobson hit a 3 as the Lions reduced their deficit to five points. @NDCLBasketball Coach Steve Steinmetz, who took over the program when Pat Vuyancih stepped down after last season, discusses the Lions’ 81-68 loss to Hawken pic.twitter.com/WTx9xOYbOp — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) December 6, 2025 “Getting out on their shooters, and we just amped up the pressure,” NDCL coach Steve Steinmetz said of the third-quarter run. “One thing we do know how to do is put pressure on the ball. We have not been able to sustain that for long periods of time, but as the season goes on we’ll build up our legs and be able to do that more and more.” But senior Greg Price drilled a 3 to stop the run, and the teams traded baskets for the rest of the third frame. Two free throws by junior Charlie Mallett gave Hawken a 63-53 lead in the fourth, then after another Hernan layup and a 3-ball by Keep brought NDCL within 67-60, an 8-2 run by the Hawks put the game out of reach. Hernan scored a team-high 27 points with eight rebounds for the Lions, Keep added 19 points, and Jacobson chipped in 15 to go with six boards and four steals. NDCL shot 47% from the field (29 of 62), but sank only five 3s in 19 tries. NDCL lost to St. Edward, 89-50, in its season opener. But Steinmetz is confident that playing a difficult schedule will pay off down the road. “We have a ridiculous schedule,” Steinmetz said. “I told the boys we only play one team all year that’s in a lower division than us, and that’s Lutheran East. We’ve had a difficult schedule the last two years, but that’s put us in position to make it to the district finals.” Sophomore Ice Taylor scored 23 points for Hawken, and Price added 14 points and eight rebounds. Hawken shot 58% from the field (28 of 48), hit 16 of 19 from the line, sank nine 3-pointers, and outrebounded the Lions, 27-21. Hawken opened its season with wins of 75-57 over Richmond Heights and 72-45 over Spire Academy. Burns is happy with three double-digit wins to start the season, but said it’s way too early to rest on any laurels. “We got a long way to go,” Burns said. “It’s early in the season. By February we’ll be a different team. I like the growth. We’re using each game to get better. We look like an early (season) team right now, and we can only get better from here.” THE SCORE Hawken 81, NDCL 68 ...read more read less