Staff writer
The Hillsboro High School girls’ basketball team lost to Sterling, 53-51, Tuesday in Hillsboro.
Guard Danae Bina was the catalyst for the most important plays which brought the Trojans within two points with 1 minute, 22 seconds left in the game.
The Trojans were down 49-40. After Amy Bartel scored a layup, the Trojans received a tie up on the other end. On the next play, Bina found herself alone under the basket and came down with the offensive rebound. Bina had 5 rebounds in the game, three of the offensive variety. Without a dribble, Bina went up for short jump shot quickly and was fouled. She hit the shot but missed the ensuing free throw.
At 51-44 with 2:28 left, Bina hit an open layup cutting from the baseline and receiving an ontime bounce pass from Courtney Weber.
On the next offensive possession, Bina drove the baseline and drew three defenders in the middle of the lane, she kicked the ball to Callie Serene in the left corner of the court who knocked the triple.
With 1:22 left in a 51-49 game, Bina then picked off a lofting pass and broke away on a fastbreak by herself.
In a cruel twist, Bina missed the layup, having the ball curl out of the cup. Sterling was able to hold on after rebounding a free-throw miss.
As is the case with most comebacks, it took a Trojan collapse to create it. Hillsboro turned the ball over four times to start the fourth quarter. They could not unlock Sterling’s press.
Sterling also defeated the Trojans on the boards and on the inside. Taylor Ahnert scored 12 points for Sterling and grabbed 7 offensive rebounds. Krista Reimer fouled out trying to guard her and Erin Winter was ineffective.
Bartel was another bright spot for the Trojans. She got a steal on her first possession in the game in the fourth quarter and almost created two more on inbounds plays.
“Amy was a bigger spark than anybody else,” Hiebert said. “I should have put her in a lot sooner.”
The Trojans top scorers in the game were Reimer and Lackey with 10 points. Bina added 9 points.
