Two of the area’s top-tier talents went back-and-forth on the hardwood as Calhoun freshman point guard Trace Hawkins and Notre Dame senior shooting guard Gaas Herman put on a show Monday night inside Phifer Gym.
After helping lead the Yellow Jackets football program to its fifth GHSA state championship this past December, Hawkins showed his poise as he scored 18 points, dished out five assists and hit a trio of first-half 3-pointers to propel a 63-55 road victory.
Hawkins drilled back-to-back 3-pointers off screens at the top of the arc to give Calhoun a 33-18 lead at the end the first half. Calhoun (7-2) made seven of its 10 long-range buckets in the first two periods.
“We have guys who can shoot the ball. We just have to penetrate and kick,” Hawkins said. “This was a tough win for us going against a guy as good as Gaas. He is a great player and is hard to guard. He can shoot the three and get down the court. He is a great player all around.”
The 6-foot-3 Herman showed why he is one of the best players in the state as he scored a game-high 33 points and added a dozen rebounds along with a never give-up spirit as the Fighting Irish charged back.