Hillsboro boys basketball has found its groove, extending its streak to four games by outlasting Southeast of Saline Friday night, 69-58. 

Coach Darrel Knoll’s got to feel good anytime he can knock off the Trojans, especially considering the headaches SES has given Hillsboro since 2015, going 2-2. 

It wasn’t the easiest, or prettiest, but a win is a win. Even better when it’s on the road. 

Hillsboro spent a majority of the night trying to get the lid off the basket, mustering 38% shooting for the night.

Despite surrendering 44% shooting, Hillsboro’s defense forced 17 turnovers with 14 coming off steals. 

Matthew dropped a team-high 19 on SES, Caleb added 14, while Ratzlaff scored 16 and dished 5 assists, while Matthew added 7 rebounds. 

Caleb Diener and Dillon Boldt also gave Hillsboro a boost, combining for 15 points with 8 and 7. 

Girls stumble in first loss

The Trojans were off to their best start in six years at 5-0, but the steak came to an end with a 49-35 loss at SES. 

Other than taking a 2-0 lead in the first 20 seconds of the contest, Hillsboro had a hard enough time playing a full quarter, much less 48 minutes. 

That had plenty to do with the purple-clads grabbing an 18-11 lead after the first quarter, and keeping the Trojans from getting enough flow to threaten SES. 

More turnovers than field goals is the perfect combo for disaster.

Hillsboro turned the ball over 10 more times than its 11 field goals. 

Outside Teegan Werth, who finished with a team-high 14 points, and Kinsey Kleiner, who finished with 8, the SES defense denied Hillsboro looks at the basket.  Hillsboro managed to hit 35% from the floor the first half, but was still in dire straits at halftime, down 31-19. 

That was too stiff a number to overcome.