Trojan girls storm past Moundridge

By RYAN RICHTER

Staff writer

The Moundridge Wildcats have had a knack for being a nuisance for the Hillsboro High School girls basketball team. 

It was the Wildcats that spoiled the Trojans’ state title hopes a year ago in a sub-state title game, crushing Hillsboro’s best season since 2014. 

Monday night, in the opening round of the Remington sub-state, with the Trojans hosting the Wildcats, was not one of those times. 

Fourth-seeded Hillsboro had plenty of reason to be confident heading into the postseason, snapping a six-year losing streak to Halstead, then pushing Class 3A’s top-five Nickerson to the limit in the regular season finale. 

The Trojans wasted no time putting Monday’s game away early, cruising to a 50-27 victory and advancing to a Thursday night meeting against top-seeded Berean at Remington. 

By the time Moundridge scored its first basket of the game with about 30 seconds left in the first quarter, the Trojans were threatening to chase the Wildcats back home, up 15-2. 

Hillsboro’s defense kept the Wildcats off balance through three quarters, pushing the lead to 33-8 by halftime, limiting Moundridge to a woeful 15% from the floor the first half, 23% for the game. 

Savannah Shahan nearly outdid Moundridge by herself with a game-high 20 points, 11 coming in the first half. 

The Trojans wreaked havoc on the Wildcats defensively, forcing 20 Moundridge turnovers.

A bevy of those became fast breaks for easy shots, and Hillsboro hit a hot 50% from the floor the first half, 42% on the night.

The Trojans pushed their lead as far as 40 in the third quarter before coach Nathan Hiebert used his bench in the fourth quarter with Hillsboro up, 47-16. 

Zaylee Werth almost notched a double-double with seven rebounds and nine assists, and Reese Hefley scored six points off steals. 

Thursday’s action at Remington is scheduled for 6 p.m.