The Hiawatha boys basketball team opened play at the 12th annual Thunder Classic on Tuesday night with an impressive 64-41 victory over Troy.

With the win, the Redhawks improved to 11-1 on the season and moved up to No. 6 in Class 3A in the latest Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA) rankings. The victory also served as a measure of redemption, as Troy handed Hiawatha its only loss of the season earlier in December, an 87-85 double-overtime setback.

Hiawatha gradually built a lead in the first half and took a 32-21 advantage into halftime. The Redhawks then pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Trojans 32-20 over the final two quarters to secure the win.

Braylen Siebenmorgen led Hiawatha with a dominant performance, finishing with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Lane Kesler added 11 points and six rebounds, while Ethan Morton chipped in 10 points.

Troy fell to 8-5 on the season with the loss. The Trojans were led by Henry Geiger, who recorded 16 points and eight rebounds, while Kaston Jasper contributed 14 points.