News editor
It was another rough night on the hardwoods for the Hillsboro girls, as the Sterling Black Bears roared out of Brown Gymnasium with a 67-27 victory.
Sterling dominated the inside game, scoring 30 points in the paint and winning the rebound battle 40-29.
The Trojans got off to a slow start offensively, connecting on just one-of-10 first quarter field goal attempts. They kept in the game by hitting all five free throws they took, trailing 15-7 at the end of the period.
It didn’t get better in the second quarter, as again the Trojans depended on free throws to offset 1-of-8 shooting. The Black Bears put up twice as many shots to score 20 and lead 35-15 at the break.
Hillsboro broke into double-digit scoring in the third quarter, knocking down two 3-pointers and two more baskets, but Sterling’s 25 points set up a running clock in what proved to be a scoreless final stanza for the Trojans.
Alex Ratzlaff scored 18 points in the loss.
Hesston
Hesston showed why it’s the top-ranked team in Class 3A Friday, shackling the Hillsboro girls with a 54-28 win at Brown Gymnasium.
The Swathers’ defense was stifling, forcing the Trojans into tough shots and 23 turnovers. Hillsboro scored just one basket in both the first and fourth quarter, shooting 12 percent from the field in those periods.
Hillsboro’s best offensive quarter was the third, when Abby Sechrist, Brooklyn Wiens, and Ratzlaff all connected on 3-pointers, as the Trojans scored 13 points.
The Swathers held Ratzlaff to 8 points, and Darcy Heinrichs added 5.