It was a first quarter the Hamilton High School boys basketball team would like to forget Friday night.

Unfortunately for the Big Blue, Mason spent the next three quarters making sure they couldn’t.

Despite a valiant fourth-quarter comeback, Hamilton couldn’t overcome the early hole, falling to visiting Mason 49-42.

Mason’s Brian King led all scorers with 16 points as the Comets avenged a December defeat to Hamilton.

“It was discouraging to come out at home and not play with intensity,” Hamilton coach Tim Robinson said of the poor start. “Defensively we were just bad all night. You can’t give up layups in this league and win.”

Mason jumped out to a 14-2 and weathered Hamilton runs the rest of the way in notching its third-straight win.

Hamilton closed the gap to 24-18 early in the third but Mason ended the quarter on a 13-5 run to snag a commanding 37-23 lead entering the final stanza.

The Big Blue refused to quit, however, opening the fourth on a 13-1 run to get to 38-36 with 4:54 left.

Adam Robbins hit back to back treys, Quintin Bailey had two buckets and Kalil Frierson hit a 3-pointer to key the comeback.

Hamilton would get no closer, however, as Mason hit 9-of-14 from the free-throw line to secure the win, improving to 6-6, 3-4 in the Greater Miami Conference.

The Big Blue was led by Bailey’s 10 points while Christian Jones added nine. Jamil Daniels and Robbins each scored eight for Hamilton, which fell to 5-7, 2-5 GMC.

Conner McVey added 10 points for Mason, which hosts Kings on Tuesday night.

Hamilton hosts Miamisburg tonight.