For some, the holiday season is about relaxation and time off. However, for the No. 6 Washington Hatchets, it has been about a grueling three-game, five-day stretch.

But in spite of the busy schedule, the Hatchets were able to pick up their second win of the weekend with a 66-47 win over Sullivan in the Hatchet House after beating Bosse on the road Friday.

“It is difficult to prepare for three different kinds of teams in five days, but that is when you have to take your basics on defense and offense and worrying about executing the things that you do best. You have to put the emphasis on what you do and I think you saw us do that tonight,” said Hatchet coach Gene Miiller.

“We ran what we wanted to run and just tried to get a good shot each possession.”

And for the second night in a row, one of the pleasant surprises was the continued emergence of sophomore Matt Babrick. Babrick followed up a 21-point effort against Bosse, with 16 points and a team-leading nine rebounds against Sullivan.

“He has been shooting well, but he has been doing other things well,” said Miiller. “His rebounding has improved, his defense has gotten better and he is setting good screens, along with his offense getting better. I was really pleased with the weekend he has had and hope it continues throughout the season. He is playing with an experienced group of perimeter players who know how to get him the ball.”

Sam Gines also came up big for the Hatchets with 17 points, knocking downing three 3-pointers and picking up five assists. Ethan Hunsinger's athleticism was also on display throughout the night with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and a perfect 6-6 from the line.

Although the 19-point win may look substantial, the game was mostly even for the first six minutes with Sullivan and Washington knotted at two, four and six. However, baskets from Jance Johnston, Babrick, Gines and Osmon pushed WHS to a 17-13 lead at the end of the first quarter— a lead they would not give up for the rest of the night.

The Hatchets did not hit a bucket for the first 5:00 of the second quarter, but were able to go 7-10 from the free throw line and limited Sullivan to just four points during the same stretch. The stifling Hatchet defense also caused seven turnovers during the quarter. Turnovers were an issue for the Golden Arrows, handing over the ball 31 times. The Hatchets ended the quarter with a trey from Kurtis Anthony and a basket from Gines to go into the half with a 32-24 lead.

“We tried to keep after people and put pressure on the basketball and make the other team handle the basketball,” added Miiller.

The Hatchets posted 17 points in each of the final two quarters.

Gines came out of the locker room hot with a pair of treys that quickly pushed the lead to 38-26. Babrick added three baskets, Hunsinger scored and Derek Singleton added a trey to push the Hatchets to a 49-36 lead after three.

“Gines came out and got us going in the second half. He was 3-5 (from 3-point territory). He is a steady player and even when he is not scoring, he gives us a lot in the basketball game,” added Miiller.

Gines, Babrick and Hunsinger dominated the fourth quarter scoring. The final stanza also saw 6-7 sophomore Robert Pittman make his first varsity appearance.

Also scoring for the Hatchets after Gines, Babrick and Hunsinger were Osmon with seven and six assists, Singleton with six and Anthony and Johnston with three each.

Sullivan got a strong night from 6-4 senior Thad Thompson with 15 and 10 rebounds, along with double figure scoring from Dalton Haitt and Dreyson Boyd.

The Hatchet JV picked up a 34-30 win, with Pittman getting eight and Anthony and Jacob Stephens getting six each.

The Hatchet travel to Loogootee on Tuesday to face the 6-1 Lions at 6 p.m.

“It was important to get these two wins. We know going to Loogootee to complete this trifecta, we will have to play well, because Loogootee is playing very well right now,” said Miiller.