Hoover Wins by Sweeping the Boards

The countdown is on for Hoover High after putting its best foot forward to defeat Glendale, 62-40, in a Pacific League boys’ basketball opener at Glendale High on Friday night.

Hoover Coach Kirt Kohlmeier, who believes his team can go undefeated through 10 league games, watched his team rebound from a sluggish start against the Dynamiters (8-8).

Glendale pulled down 11 rebounds to Hoover’s seven and claimed a 13-12 lead on a Krikor Karamanoukian three-pointer on the last basket of the first quarter.

“It looked like both teams were pretty tight in the first quarter,” Kohlmeier said. “I think we figured out the only way to take control of this game was to take control of the boards.”

Hoover dominated the boards in the final three quarters, 46-15.

Mark Hull, a 6-foot-6 senior forward, had 19 points and 15 rebounds, and Zareh Avedian added 14 points and 20 rebounds for the Tornadoes.

“That’s where they were killing us early,” Hull said. “We had the size advantage but we weren’t using it in the first quarter.”

Hull was happy to get so much help from his teammates, especially Avedian.

“Zareh had a great game tonight,” Hull said. “That’s what we need from our big guys especially.”

Hull, who is averaging 27.3 points a game, got plenty of help in the scoring department as well, which he thinks will be the key to winning the league title.

“I think that will be the key to winning the league,” Hull said. “In league especially, teams are going to be keying on me and other guys need to step up.

“This is the start of league and we need to stay on top. We didn’t do that last year.”

Hoover, which finished third last season, claimed its fourth lead of the game on a baseline jumper by Kris Rubio with three minutes left in the second quarter and then pulled away.

The Tornadoes (11-5), who have won just three league titles in the past 18 years, extended their lead to nine points at halftime and 15 points after three quarters.

Hoover took its largest lead, 22 points, on two free throws by Hull in the final minute. Rubio had 10 points for Hoover.

Glendale suffered an abysmal shooting night, making six of 27 in the first half and eight of 28 in the second.

Glendale’s low point was the second quarter, when the Dynamiters missed all three of their free throws and Rogelio Maravilla’s short jumper stood as their only points as they were outscored 12-2.