The Hillsboro boys’ basketball team built a double-digit lead early in the first quarter and never trailed against the Sterling Black Bears Tuesday at home, winning 57-44.

Brett Weinbrenner led scoring for Hillsboro with 17 points. Christian Ratzlaff added 13 points.

Defense was a strength for the Trojans in the game, as they grabbed 15 steals compared to Sterling’s one. They also out-rebounded the Black Bears 29-26.

The victory was a bounce-back game for the Trojans after they lost Friday on the road at Pratt, 48-47. The Trojans led at the start of the fourth quarter in that game. Ratzlaff and Weinbrenner also paced the scoring in that game with 17 and 16 points, respectively.

Hillsboro plays Friday at Nickerson before beginning the Trojan Classic. Hillsboro will play seven seed Goodland at 6 p.m. Tuesday.