Hickory Creek didn’t have to think hard about what kind of style it wanted to play to be successful this season. When you have the biggest kid in the district and a bunch of athletic guards surrounding him, the game can look easy.

The Hawks breezed to a District 1 championship Thursday night, riding a big night from center Lawson Denning to defeat Irving College 34-8. Denning outscored the Tigers on his own, dropping a game-high 13 points – nine coming in the first quarter – to lead his squad to a title.

Denning’s size was a big reason why the Hawks found themselves in the championship in the first place. His height and rebounding proved to be the difference in a battle with Boyd in the semifinals and he carried that momentum directly into the finals.

Denning dominated from the first tip, taking command of the paint as Hickory Creek jumped out to a 14-2 lead. Brody Chisam also helped push the advantage to double digits early, exciting the crowd and his fellow Hawks with a finish through contact on an eventual three-point play.

Gus Bouldin and Colton Todd were Denning’s running mates in the paint, with both getting a bucket in the second quarter as the lead swelled to 22-6 by halftime.

Denning and lightning-quick guard Case Simpson did most of the damage after the break, with Simpson scoring three of his five points in the third quarter and Denning getting a pair of buckets in the period to move the Hawks ahead by 25.

Hayes Fuston added a basket and Caleb Rhoady sank a fourth-quarter free throw to cap Hickory Creek’s big win. Eli Martin, Owen Page and Gage Woodlee also got on the scoreboard for the Hawks, finishing with two points apiece.

Ridge Green, Cash Luck, Michael Ferrell and Clint Grissom scored two points each for Irving College in the finals.

Boyd defeated Bobby Ray in Thursday’s consolation game to finish third in the preseason tourney.