Highland's boys basketball team couldn't contain Perry center Lucas O'Brien when the squads squared off in early December.

The 6-foot-10 O'Brien had his way with 32 points in a 67-65 Perry win that night. Highland was bound and determined it wouldn't happen again Friday night in their second meeting.

With Justin Herder and Nate Rogers supplying the muscle on O'Brien in the post, the Hawks took away Perry's big man and played a solid game in just about every other facet in coasting to a 66-38 win at Highland.

"We had to make sure he he felt us in the post," Highland coach Derrick Donaldson said. "We had to keep him off the offensive boards especially. That's where he really hurt us the first time we played. If he did get the ball we had to have help to make sure we kept him off the boards. The guys did a great job of that."

O'Brien, who averages 16 points a game, finished with just five on Friday. He scored three in the first half and got his lone offensive rebound for a basket in the third period. O'Brien exited for a breather late in the third period. When the period ended Highland had extended its 17-point halftime lead to 23. Perry coach Mark Nold opted not to put O'Brien back in as it was apparent the Pumas weren't going to make a run on the Hawks on this night.

Along with the strong defense on O'Brien, Highland got good ball movement  in the half court and scored often in transition. Even better was its balanced scoring led by sophomore Jake Toolson (14 points), Conner Toolson (10) and Brandon Duenas (10). Bryce Farabee added eight as did Imani Washington.

Perry, which was led by Nathan Henderson with 13 points off the bench, slipped to 19-6 overall and 12-4 in power-point games. The game had more immediacy for Highland. The Hawks evened their overall mark a 11-11 and are now 8-7 in power-point games. They are still focused on making a run at postseason either at sectionals or via an at-large berth.

"This is the first of what we hope will be four wins by the end of next week," Donaldson said.. "If we play defense like this and share the ball as well as did tonight, we have a chance."