Trojans topple Smoky Valley
Staff writer
Hillsboro varsity boy’s basketball pulled off a fast-paced win against Smoky Valley Tuesday, defeating the Vikings 67-36.
Smoky Valley was the first to score after two early free throws by Hillsboro came up short.
Another two free throws would add Hillsboro’s first points to the score board.
For most of the quarter the Vikings and the Trojans would trade the lead with Smoky Valley leading 10-9 before a pair of free throws and a 3-point play by Avery Franz pulled the Trojans ahead, 14-10.
By the end of the quarter the Trojans extended their lead to 21-12.
For the remainder of the first half the Vikings would fight to cut the deficit but were continually outscored by Hillsboro, who led by 20 at halftime.
Smoky Valley opened the second half with a layup. It was followed by a 3-pointer by Christian Ratzlaff. Both teams traded baskets, keeping Hillsboro’s lead to 20 points until a 3-point basket and an intentional foul on Jordan Faul pushed the lead to 56-30 going into the fourth quarter.
The Trojans would trade multiple fouls with the Vikings before defeating them 67-36.
Hillsboro’s top scorers were Ratzlaff with 18 and Micah Allen and Brett Weinbrenner with 10 each.
Hillsboro Ford gave $7,520 to the booster club at halftime.
Hillsboro handles Sterling
Hillsboro shot 48 percent from the floor and 89 percent from the free-throw line in a commanding defeat of Sterling Monday on the road.
The Trojans’ defense limited the Black Bears to only a single basket in the first quarter, taking a 10-3 lead. The lead grew every quarter, as Hillsboro led 27-16 at halftime, 45-24 after three quarters, and won 57-33.
The Trojans grabbed 10 steals in the game, led by Brett Weinbrenner with four. Weinbrenner also led all scorers with 19 points. Evan Ollenburger had 10 points; Christian Ratzlaff, 9; Jordan Faul, 6; Jesse Brown, 5; and Micah Allen and Avery Franz, 4 each.
Trojans win tight game against Lyons
The Lyons Lions raced out to a 12-4 lead Friday in Hillsboro, but the Trojans came back to tie the game at 12 when Faul made a 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer.
The Lions led again for much of the second quarter until Ratzlaff made back-to-back 3-pointers to take a 24-20 lead. The Trojans led 26-24 at halftime.
Lyons used a zone defense in the third quarter, but the Trojans solved it by getting the ball to Ollenburger in the high post, followed by Ollenburger passing to open shooters. Ollenburger finished the game with seven assists.
Ollenburger said the coaches recognized Lyons extending the zone on the bottom, giving the openings for the team.
“I thought Evan did a nice job in the high post,” coach Darrel Knoll said.
He added that the guards were ready to shoot when they caught the ball.
The Trojans extended their lead to nine points in the third quarter. Lyons cut into the lead, coming as close as one point twice in the fourth quarter, but Hillsboro held on for the victory, 54-49.
Ratzlaff and Weinbrenner each scored 14 points to lead the Trojans. Other scorers were Ollenburger with eight and Faul, Allen, and Brown with six each.
Hillsboro’s next games will be Friday at home against Hesston and Tuesday at Halstead.