TULARE -- It wasn't the prettiest display of basketball, but the Hanford West boys were able to come away with a win on Tuesday night.

Hanford West rallied from an 11-point deficit in the third period to knock off Tulare Western 45-39 at the 15th annual Tulare Holiday Classic at the Tulare Western gym.

"We were playing at our worst and still knew we could come back and beat them," Hanford West reserve guard Jordan Clement said.

Clement was key in the second half, scoring seven of his 10 points and providing Hanford West with the energy it needed to come back.

"Jordan was a huge spark for us tonight," Hanford West coach Tim Caudillo said. "He is healthy now and he is definitely an energizer for this team."

And the Huskies (9-4) needed as much energy as Clement could produce.

Hanford West turned the ball over 38 times --28 times in the first 20 minutes of the game when they scored just 14 points.

"We were really sluggish out there," Caudillo said. "Tulare Western's zone really bothered us, but we were able to make some adjustments that got us going."

That didn't happen until midway though the third quarter when Warren Moon came alive in the high post. Moon scored a team-high 11 points and provided three assists and five rebounds.

Moon's bucket midway through the third period was the first points of the second half for the Huskies and ignited an 11-0 run, and Hanford West tied the game on a Scooter Coleman basket.

"We just had to step it up a little," Clement said. "Once we sped up the game some, that made a big difference."

The Huskies entered the fourth quarter tied 25-25, but Erik Munoz gave the Huskies a 30-28 lead and a 3-point bucket by Carlos Cortez made it 33-28 and the Huskies remained in control the rest of the way.

George Tovar and Luis Portillo scored 10 points apiece for Tulare Western (1-7).

The Huskies continue pool play tonight at 7 against El Diamante. Hanford High opens tournament play against Immanuel at 6 at the Tulare Union gym.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2431.

(Dec. 19, 2007)