By GREG MENGELT

HANOVER — Hanover entered Saturday’s Heartland Conference showdown with Defiance (Ohio) in first place with 10 wins in 11 games. The Panthers lone conference loss came at Defiance on Dec. 11.

Hanover avenged that loss — and then some — on Saturday at Collier Arena. The Panthers (15-2, 11-1 HCAC) held the Yellow Jackets to 14 of 53 shooting (26.4 percent) and ran away with a 70-34 victory. It’s Hanover’ s eighth straight win.

Junior forward Ty Houston (Union, Ky./Cooper) led all scorers with 15 points and senior guard Isaac Hibbard (New Albany) had a big all-around game with 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and a blocked shot. Former Christian Academy star Noah Williams, a senior guard, had five points, two rebounds, two blocks and an assist off the Panther bench.

No Yellow Jacket scored in double figures. Defiance (7-9, 5-5) was led by nine points from senior guard Marell Jordan (Chicago/Lafayette Jefferson).

The Panthers travel to Anderson (13-5, 8-3) in a big HCAC game Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Hanover, which beat the Ravens 67-52 on Dec. 1, leads Anderson by two games atop the HCAC standings.