By DAVID COLBURN

News editor

Hillsboro trailed by 9 late in the third quarter Friday against Nickerson, and Micah Allen, the lone returning starter from last season, was slowed by a second-quarter ankle twist. Hanging in for a respectable finish seemed the Trojans’ best hope.

But Hillsboro gradually closed the gap in the final quarter, and when a streaking David Dick scored off a pass from Allen to tie the game at 50, the Trojans had new life in overtime.

Hillsboro trailed in the extra period until two Allen free throws with 11 seconds remaining tied the score again, 55-55, and forced a second overtime.

Having escaped twice, the Trojans came out on fire. Preston Loewen fired a 3-pointer on the Trojans’ first possession, and Allen scored on consecutive possession. Loewen made two free throws, and the Trojans were up 66-60. Hillsboro closed out the game with a 7-1 run, and fittingly, Allen tossed in a free throw for the final point in the Trojans’ 73-61 win.

Allen, who led all scorers with 35 points, scored the first 9 points of the game on two free throws, a layup, a short-range jumper, and a long 3-pointer. The Trojans held an 11-4 lead going into the second quarter.

Nickerson picked up its defense and started closing the gap, knotting the score at 17 on a 3-point shot by Ben Berridge halfway through the quarter.

Hillsboro held a 1-point edge, 23-22, when Allen raced after a rebound, got tangled with a Nickerson player, and fell to the floor, spraining his ankle.

Allen came out of the game, and the Panthers took advantage. Jordan Lehman hit a 3-pointer to give Nickerson the lead, and Hillsboro trailed 25-29 at the half.

The Trojans had a huge advantage at the free-throw line, scoring 24 points to only 6 for the Panthers. Hillsboro shot 43 percent from the field for the game, and 75 percent in the second overtime.

Loewen was the only other Trojan in double figures with 11. Austin Cross, Braden Vogt, and Dick each had 6. Allen was the team’s top rebounder with 17, and Cross pulled down 12. Of the Trojans’ 12 assists, Allen had 5.

Hillsboro plays this week in the Moundridge tournament, opening play Tuesday against Lyons. They play Inman at 5:30 Thursday, and face Moundridge at 8:30 Friday. All games are in Moundridge.