Successfully executing a shift in emphasis, Hoquiam’s boys exploded into the victory column on Tuesday night.

Erupting for 53 points in the first half, the Grizzlies trounced Cascade Christian, 80-60, in a non-league boys basketball game Tuesday night at Hoquiam Square Garden.

Playing in their own classification for the first time this season, the Grizzlies improved to 1-2.

Hoquiam post Jace Varner, who sat out the second half of Thursday’s loss to Black Hills due to medical concerns, was assuredly ready for action Tuesday. The 6-foot-2 senior amassed 25 points and 11 rebounds in three quarters of play.

Senior guard Jack Adams III added 21 points and Victor James 10 points in the winning cause.

While Hoquiam’s eight 3-point baskets were only one fewer than against Black Hills, its shot chart was drastically different.

Unlike the previous contest, when they relied almost exclusively on long-range shooting, the Grizzlies took the ball inside and found the open man repeatedly in the decisive first half. That, in turn, opening things up for their perimeter game later on. Hoquiam’s first trey didn’t come until the final two seconds of the first quarter.

The Grizzlies shot 57 percent from the field in the first half. Although their ball-handling deteriorated somewhat in the second half, they continued to shoot well, finishing at 51 percent.

“I felt they shared the ball well,” HHS coach Curtis Eccles said. “The kids were cutting to the basket and we were finding the cutters for easy baskets.”

Varner and Adams handed out five assists apiece, while Zach Spradlin finished with three feeds.

Successive layins by Adams, Anthony Nash and Varner snapped a 5-all standoff and put the Grizzlies in front to stay at the 4:18 mark of the first quarter.

Adams put down a three-ball to close out a 25-point opening quarter. When James followed suit to begin the second period, the Grizzlies were cruising at 28-11. Adams’ conventional three-point play at the halftime horn made it 53-28.

The Grizzlies led by as many as 33 in the second half. Reserves played for most of the fourth quarter.

Jerod Steen had four steals for Hoquiam. Eccles cited Naz Mazariegos for reserve play.

Six-three junior Dylan Cooley topped Cascade Christian with 17 points.

Next up for the Grizzlies will be their first meeting of the season with rival Aberdeen. That contest is scheduled for Friday night at Hoquiam.

Cascade Chr 11 17 12 20 — 60 Hoquiam 25 28 16 11 — 80

Cascade Christian (60) — Fox 9, Lanier 7, Cooley 17, Jones 5, Nohr 10, Remington 2, Larsen 5, Johnson 3, O’Brien 2. FG — 25-55. FT — 8-12.

Hoquiam (80) — Spradlin 7, Nash 2, Steen 4, Adams 21, Varner 25, James 10, Mazariegos 6, Espedal, Rivera, Eccles 5, Dayton, Folkers. FG — 31-61 (.508). FT — 10-13.

JV — Hoquiam 54, Cascade Christian 38. Garrett Dick 12 points for Hoquiam.

(Brendan Carl | The Daily World) Hoquiam’s Jace Varner drives around a Cascade Christian defender on Tuesday. Varner finished with 25 points against the Cougars.

(Brendan Carl | The Daily World) Hoquiam’s Jace Varner and Zach Spradlin (1) battle with Cascade Christian’s Noah Wilkins for a rebound on Tuesday.

(Brendan Carl | The Daily World) Hoquiam’s Jack Adams drives between two Cascade Christian defenders on the way to the bucket on Tuesday.

(Brendan Carl | The Daily World) Hoquiam’s Jack Adams III elevates for a shot on Tuesday.

(Brendan Carl | The Daily World) Hoquiam’s Jerod Steen (21) and Jace Varner try to trap Cascade Christian’s Grayson Jones on Tuesday.

(Brendan Carl | The Daily World) Hoquiam’s Jerod Steen (21) and Jace Varner try to trap Cascade Christian’s Grayson Jones on Tuesday.

(Brendan Carl | The Daily World) Hoquiam’s Zach Spradlin soars to the hoop on Tuesday.