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The best scorer in Class A got cooking early, and he didn't stop. Lazerek Houston scored 46 points, the highest single-game total in the state this season, and hit a school-record nine 3-pointers to lead Lincoln Northeast to a 92-70 win over Lincoln High Friday night at Lincoln High's Johnson Activities Center. Houston finished 17-for-30 from the floor, including 9-for-15 from 3-point range, to break the previous school record of seven triples.
He finished short of Northeast legend Jerry Motz's Class A record 57-point game, set in 1964. Averaging 26.6 points per game coming in to Friday's game, he raised his per-game average to 28.
1, virtually even with Holdrege's Garret Johnson for the top scoring mark in the state regardless of class. "It was just staying confident, and my teammates giving me the ball," Houston said. People are also reading.
.. The 6-foot-1 senior knew early it would be a big night.
He missed his first three shots from the field, then made five in a row to end the first quarter with 15 points after eight minutes. He scored eight more in the first two and a half minutes of the second quarter before Lincoln High started throwing a double team at him. It quickly became of matter of how many Houston could score — the type of performance that had the Lincoln High crowd murmuring every time he touched the ball.
He went into halftime with 23 points, not scoring for the last 5:36 of the half. He quickly made up for lost time, scoring 10 in the third quarter and 13 more in the fourth as Northeast, ranked No. 10 in Class A, led by as many as 29 in the final period.
"Especially the first 3. That's when I knew," Houston said. "I kind of double-clutched it, and it still went in.
I was like 'yeah, it's going to be a good game.'" Houston scored in every way, getting to the rim, knocking down a mid-range jumper, and getting hot from beyond the 3-point line. It was the latest "good game" in a long line of them this season for Houston.
Lincoln High’s Buay Jock (left) defends as Lincoln Northeast’s Lazerek Houston goes for a layup on Friday at Lincoln High School. The transfer from Lincoln North Star has now scored 20 or more in 11 of Northeast's 14 games, and 30 or more six times. And he's done it efficiently, shooting 54% from the field, 34% from 3-point range, and 79% from the free throw line.
He's Northeast's third-leading rebounder, and leads the team in assists. His numbers have taken a dramatic jump from his junior season, when he averaged 16.1 points per game at North Star.
"Just not second-guessing. Just shooting my shot," Houston said of how he's made such a dramatic jump. "I'm not even worrying about the fans, the coaches, everything.
Just shoot my shot." The results have led to more attention. Multiple junior colleges have reached out to Houston in recruiting.
South Dakota was the first Division I school to make contact. "It's been really special," Houston said of the increased attention on him and his team. A 19-point loss to Kearney in late December flipped a leadership switch in Houston as well, Northeast coach Monte Ritche said.
"After we lost to Kearney, I really saw him step up in the leadership role and communicate more with teammates and hold them accountable," Ritche said. "And it's contagious, so then everybody starts doing it. So that's been a good shift for him and for us.
" The Rockets improved to 11-3 Friday after winning nine games last season. Mo Abdalla had maybe the quietest 20-point, 8-rebound game possible in support of Houston's big night. Grant Fredericks added 11 points and six boards for Northeast, while Easton Switzer had 10.
Lincoln High (7-7) got 22 points and six rebounds from Deveraux Sanders. Brady Nick scored 21 second-half points after going scoreless in the first half, and added eight rebounds. Photos: Lincoln Northeast vs.
Lincoln High in boys basketball game — Jan. 24 Lincoln High’s Jairik Gilmore (left) watches as his teammate Deveraux Sanders jumps to make a basket as Lincoln Northeast’s Mowafag Abdalla, Hayden Tenopir and Easton Switzer try to stop him on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, at Lincoln High School in Lincoln.
Lincoln Northeast’s Sully Neiswanger (left) protects the ball from Lincoln High’s Buay Jock on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, at Lincoln High School in Lincoln. Lincoln Northeast’s Mowafag Abdalla and Lincoln High’s Jairik Gilmore jump for the ball on Friday, Jan.
24, 2025, at Lincoln High School in Lincoln. Lincoln Northeast’s Marshawn Jefferson (left) and Lincoln High’s Kamorione Taylor wrestle for the ball as Easton Switzer watches on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, at Lincoln High School in Lincoln.
Lincoln High’s Buay Jock (left) defends as Lincoln Northeast’s Lazerek Houston goes for a layup on Friday at Lincoln High School. Lincoln Northeast’s Grant Fredericks (left) attempts to make a basket as Lincoln High’s Deveraux Sanders blocks him on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, at Lincoln High School in Lincoln.
Lincoln Northeast’s Mowafag Abdalla (left) reaches for the ball alongside Lincoln High’s Brady Nick on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, at Lincoln High School in Lincoln. Reach the writer at (402) 473-7436 or cbasnett@journalstar.
com . On Twitter @ChrisBasnettLJS. .
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