LYLE — Lyle-Pacelli senior Braden Kocer hit a big scoring milestone, but the Athletics couldn’t keep up with the Hurricanes in an 80-53 loss in a boys basketball game Lyle Friday night.

Kocer scored his 1,000th career point when he hit a pair of free throws in the second half and he finished with 24 points in the loss. Kocer joins LP senior Noah Jiskra, who had 15 points Friday, on the 1,000 point club.

Kocer, who has made a big increase in his scoring output this season, said he would’ve rather hit the milestone in a win, but he could still appreciate achieving it.

“I can remember growing up watching Cody Meyer, Brady Stier and then playing with Skylar Meyer and David Diang and watching those guys get a thousand,” Kocer said. “It’s just a dream come true. I knew I was going to have to work harder this year, because we lost some guys from last year.”

LP head coach Scott Koenigs said Kocer has stepped up his game in many ways this season.

“He’s been a tremendous player for us,” Koenigs said. “He’s got a great up and under move. If he was 6-5 he would be crazy good. He works so hard and he’s our leader. He keeps guys together and he’s very positive.”

LP (13-10 overall, 11-6 SEC) jumped out to an early 6-3 lead, but the Hurricanes (18-4 overall, 15-3 SEC) used a 19-2 run to take over the game.

LP shot just 48 percent from the free throw line and it made only one three-pointer on the night.

“They came out shooting from their knees. Awful looking shots but they were going in,” Koenigs said. “They made some shots and we didn’t hit anything. It was probably our worst performance of the year coming off a couple of good performances. Hopefully we can have a good week next week.”

LP will play at Grand Meadow 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Houston 38 42 — 80

LP 18 35 — 53

LP scoring: Braden Kocer, 24; Noah Jiskra, 15; Brady Lester, 5; Kamis Kuku, 3; Jed Nelson, 2; Jordan Cotter, 2; Lee Bauer, 1; Patrick Murphy, 1; free throws: 16-for-33 (48 percent); rebounds: 23 (Kocer, 5); turnovers: 13