BULLARD — To say the Brook Hill Guard has plenty of players that can put the ball in the hoop would have been an understatement on Saturday afternoon as Grant Hanks had a 35-point output and a torrid defensive effort advanced the Brook Hill Guard past Irving-The Highlands in a dominating 83-52, TAPPS Division III Area Round playoff win over the Blazers at Brook Hill’s, Herrington Sports Complex.

“It was a total team win tonight,” said Dawkins after the playoff win. “I think we have several kids that can score a lot of points on any given night, and tonight Alex (Hale) really stepped it up early for us, and then after Grant (Hanks) warmed up, they just didn’t have an answer for him.

“We had a great defensive effort from Chase McDermott, Phillip Kitt and Jake Anderson inside,” Dawkins added.

Brook Hill advances to play Lubbock Christian for a final-four bid, Tuesday in Aledo at 7:30 p.m.

Hanks started out a bit chilly, but freshman guard Alex Hale took up the slack early on.

Brook Hill freshman guard, Alex Hale scored four of the first 10-points for Brook Hill to take a 10-5 lead early on. Hale finished the game with 11 points, as Grant Hanks began to warm up in the second quarter with two 3-pointers and 11-points at the midway point.

“Grant was a little cold at the first of the game and I knew it was time to step up,” Hale said after the win. “I may be one of the younger players on the floor but I try to play like a senior, and tonight the team needed me to get things going and it was a great team win.”

The second half, Hanks and company were unstoppable as Hanks pumped in three more treys and 24 points to total out at 35-points in the game.

Hanks first basket made it a 18-9 score in the first quarter. Hanks first trey built the lead quickly for the Guard with a 32-17 advantage at the 3:44 mark before intermission.

“I started out cold and couldn’t make anything fall at the first of the game,” Hanks, the sophomore sharp-shooter said. “But Alex (Hale) and our defense really set the tone for us, and I finally started getting in the flow and my shot felt good.”

Bryant Robinson came on in the second quarter with two clutch buckets, sandwiching a Hale trey to make it a 25-14, double-digit Guard lead for the first time of the game.

The bench production continued as Drew Swink came in and knocked down two 3-pointers, the first building a 58-39, Guard lead. Next a Hanks trey, followed by two Chase McDermott free throw as Brook Hill bulge grew to 63-39 after three quarters.

Brook Hill freshman post, Anderson scored seven-points, grabbed 11 rebounds and drew two charging fouls to control the paint for the Guard. McDermott matched his eight-points with eight steals and seven rebounds, while Kitt added five points, six rebounds and three blocked shots.

When asked about the upcoming Lubbock Christian crew Dawkins is well familiar with the program.

“Lubbock Christian is a very well coached team that is always fundamentally sound,” said Dawkins. “It will take us playing a smart basketball and they are gonna come at us on defense so if we can keep the turnovers down it, but it will be a tough game.”