Staff writer
The Hillsboro High School girls’ basketball team opened sub-state play Tuesday with a dominating 74-37 rout of cross-county rival Marion.
Three minutes into the game, the Trojans led 6-4, with Stephanie Sanders, Krista Reimer, and Maci Schlehuber contributing baskets.
The final five minutes of the first quarter, the Trojans could do little wrong offensively, as every shot they took went in.
Callie Serene started the blitz with a 3-pointer, and Sanders hit another one. Addie Lackey pulled up on a fast break for a 10-foot jumper, and the Trojans went into a time-out with a 14-4 lead.
Serene didn’t skip a beat, nailing a 12-footer, and Schlehuber popped a 3-pointer. Danae Bina was the sixth Trojan to collect a basket, and Sanders closed out the streak on a fast break bucket with 28 seconds left in the quarter.
Seven shots taken, seven shots made. A 2-point margin ballooned to a 15-point bulge as the Trojans ended the quarter leading 23-8.
“Marion early on they decided to stay off of Steph, and the last couple games we’ve been attacking the basket really, really well and we haven’t shot a lot of outside shots,” Hillsboro head coach Nathan Hiebert said.
“Tonight, they were letting us shoot, and we have great shooters,” Hiebert said.
The Trojans kept right on clicking throughout the runaway, leading at the half 40-21, and stretching the lead at one point to an overwhelming 41 points, 70-29.
“Momentum is going well, rhythm is going well, the girls get excited, and it just builds,” Hiebert said.
Serene had the hottest hand for the Trojans, collecting 20 points, followed by Bina with 13, Sanders with 11, and Lackey with 10.
“We wanted to be playing our best ball at the end of the season, and we’re doing a great job right now,” Heibert said. “A lot of girls are feeling involved, everyone is doing their part.”
The Trojans travel Friday to Southeast of Saline for a semifinal matchup against Southeast of Saline who defeated Hutch Trinity, 59-48.