The Hillsboro boys couldn’t make a first-quarter lead against Sterling stand up Tuesday, falling 58-45 to the Black Bears at Brown Gymnasium.

The Trojans took a 13-11 lead in the first quarter on 5-of-14 shooting from the field, but the Black Bears surged back in the second with 19 points. Sterling led 30-25 at the half.

Both teams cooled down offensively in an evenly-matched third quarter, with Sterling adding just 1 point to its lead, 41-35.

The Trojans faltered from the field in the fourth, hitting just 2-of-19 shots, as the Black Bears pulled away for the win..

Micah Allen led the Trojans with 12 points.

Hesston

The Hillsboro boys didn’t shoot poorly Friday against Hesston; they just didn’t get many shots, as the Swathers breezed to a 58-28 win.

Hesston’s average margin of victory in 11 wins prior to Friday was 27 points, and the fifth-ranked team in Class 3A kept that pace against the Trojans.

Hillsboro had trouble finding good shots against the Swathers’ swarming defense, which forced 15 turnovers. Hillsboro took only 29 shots, compared to 50 for Hesston.

Josh Funk and Austin Cross kept the Trojans close in the first quarter, and a 3-pointer to start the second by Micah Allen tied the score at 11. The Swathers responded with a 13-4 run, and led 26-17 at the half. Hesston ran away with the game in the second half, outscoring the Trojans 32-11.

No Trojans reached double figures in scoring. Cross scored 9, followed by Preston Loewen with 6.