Editor’s note: Lance Cauley, the author of this story, is a sports contributor to The England Democrat.

The Hazen Hornets invaded the Lions Den on Thursday night (Feb. 5) for a conference showdown with England in a makeup game postponed the previous week due to snow and icy road conditions. When the final horn sounded, the England Lions were firmly in control, cruising to an 80–43 victory.

England wasted no time setting the tone, exploding for 31 points in the opening quarter while holding Hazen to just eight. Jayquan Mays and Aden Scribner paced the Lions early with eight points apiece, followed by Tres Chaten with six and Trent Arnold with four. Landon Woods and Jarvis Drayer added two points each, with Jaylen Graham chipping in one.

Hazen was led in the quarter by Noah Adkins, who knocked down a three, while Remington Fegley and Mandrell Humbert scored two points each.

Both offenses picked up the pace in the second quarter, with Hazen scoring 21 and England answering with 28 to take a commanding 59–29 lead into halftime.Fegley led the Hornets with six points on a pair of three-pointers, while Jase Arnett added five. Adkins, Humbert, JJ Pinkney, Trevor Fulmer, and Matthew Bokker each scored two.

The Lions stayed in control after the break, outscoring Hazen 15–7 in the third quarter to push the lead to 74–36. Drayer and Graham scored five points each in the period, with Chaten adding three and Woods two. Pinkney led Hazen with five points in the quarter.

With the outcome decided, both teams emptied the bench in the final period. Hazen edged England 7–6 in the quarter, but the Lions closed out the night with an 80–43 win.

Taevionne Reed scored four for Hazen, while Tony Jenkins added three. England was led in the final quarter by Colin Kinsey with four points and Drayer with two.

For the game, Hazen was led by Remington Fegley with eight points, followed by JJ Pinkney with seven, and six apiece from Jase Arnett and Mandrell Humbert. Reed finished with four, Jenkins with three, and Fulmer and Bokker added two each.