By RYAN RICHTER

Staff writer

Trojan boys basketball coach Darrel Knoll was befuddled.

He couldn’t figure out how Monday’s opening round opponent of the Marion sub-state, the Wabaunsee Chargers, were logging around a 5-15 record.

Especially after giving hosting Hillsboro all it could handle the first half, staying hot on the Trojans’ tail.

Wes Shaw returned the favor for the Chargers, though, muscling his way to a career-high 27 points to go along with 11 rebounds for a double-double.

“I couldn’t figure out how they were 5-15, they play hard,” Knoll said. “They shot the ball really well and we didn’t really do a good job rebounding, we knew they were a good rebounding team, but we just didn’t take care of business at times.

“With their ability to shoot it tonight, they hung around. We were more disciplined defensively the second half and forced a lot tougher shots.”

The victory pushed Hillsboro to 16-7 on the season.

The Chargers led as many as four a trio of times the first quarter, but Shaw scored 8 of his 27 and 14 in the first half to keep Hillsboro from drifting away.

Hillsboro yielded 46 percent shooting the first half, 44 for the game, with Wabaunsee regaining the lead with just over 30 seconds left before the break, 29-27.

Caleb Potucek scored on a fast break that just beat the buzzer, sending the Trojans in at half, up 31-29.

The Trojans’ bench outscored Wabaunsee 24-11 with freshman Matthew Potucek and senior Jorge Hanschu combining for 20 points with Matthew’s 13.

Wabaunsee stuck within five points the first 3:00 of the second half, but Darian Ratzlaff’s trio of threes and 16 points stretched Hillsboro’s lead to double digits midway through the third quarter.

Rhett Murray and Brayden Meseke were responsible for the Chargers keeping pace with Murray’s team-high 21 and Meseke’s 20 points.

Hillsboro’s 47 percent shooting and 41-29 edge rebounding neutralized any chance of Wabaunsee crawling back in.

The third-seeded Trojans will get a rematch Thursday against hosting second-seeded Marion with a ticket to Saturday’s sub-state finale up for grabs with action tipping off at 7:30 p.m.

The Warriors outlasted the Trojans 54-52 in December.

Scoring summary: Shaw, 27; D. Ratzlaff, 16; M. Potucek, 13; C. Potucek, 9; Hanschu, 7; Avery Unruh, 2; Grayson Ratzlaff, 2; Caleb Rempel, 2.

Girls

Hillsboro girls knocked out Mission Valley 53-42 Tuesday night to advance to the second round of sub state play.

They will play top-seeded Wabaunsee Friday in Marion.