Basketball Game Preview: Harleton Wildcats vs. Hawkins Hawks

Harleton is 0-10 against Hawkins since December of 2017 but things could change on Friday. The Harleton Wildcats will host the Hawkins Hawks at 7:30 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.

Having struggled with five losses in a row, Harleton turned things around against Hughes Springs on Tuesday. Everything went their way against the Mustangs as they made off with a 56-32 win. That 24 point margin sets a new team best for the Wildcats this season.

Meanwhile, Hawkins waltzed into their game on Saturday with five straight wins... but they left with six. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past the Chargers 67-64. Given the Hawks' advantage in MaxPreps' Texas basketball rankings (they are ranked 329th, while the Chargers are ranked 808th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Harleton better keep an eye on Brayden Givens. He was instrumental in Hawkins' win, dropping a double-double on 31 points and 11 boards. Givens is trending in the right direction considering he's improved his point production for four straight games. Derein Hollman was another key player, going 6 of 7 on his way to 12 points along with eight boards and five steals.

Hawkins smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 15 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive rebounds in six consecutive matches.

Hawkins' win bumped their record up to 18-2. As for Harleton, their victory ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 5-16.

Harleton took a serious blow against Hawkins when the teams last played back in January of 2024, falling 75-35. Thankfully for Harleton, Boston Conner (who went 6 of 12 on his way to 18 points in addition to six assists and six steals) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? There's only one way to find out.