Black Bears no match for unbeaten Trojans
No. 3 Hillsboro boys trounce Sterling, 66-41
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
If you're a team still hunting for your first victory, the Trojans were one of the last teams the Sterling Black Bears needed to see Friday night in Hillsboro.
Especially when you're trying to match up against powerful Hillsboro with a squad comprised mostly of junior varsity players.
Hillsboro coach Darrell Knoll wasn't about to let his team get complacent in perhaps the one game it could afford to the most.
You never would have guessed that with the Trojans (15-0) using their typical businesslike approach to the game and nail the Black Bears' coffin shut early in a 66-41 win.
"I was exceedingly pleased with how sharp we were defensively and offensively," Knoll said. "I thought we moved the ball as well as we have all year.
Trailing 4-2 in the first two minutes of action was about the brightest spot Sterling would see until Knoll pulled his starters in the opening minutes of the second half.
With one player on the Black Bear roster over 6-foot-1, the Trojans' frontcourt scalded Sterling inside for 61 percent shooting, led by Derek Hamm's game-high 12 points.
Not only did Sterling have Hamm to contend with, but junior reserves Wade Weibert, and Peter Fast.
Weibert and Fast each had season-highs of 10 and eight points respectively, with Dan Decker adding 10 more along with a game-high four steals.
While the Trojans were knocking down the shots, shooting a blistering 9-of-16 from the field the first quarter, Sterling was turning the ball over and hitting just 3- of-13.
Hillsboro had the game well in control after eight minutes, leading, 22-7.
It would only get worse for Sterling the second quarter as Eric Weinbrenner swiped a Sterling pass and scored on a fastbreak to fuel an 8-0 run.
By the time Colby Brown hit the Bears' first basket of the second frame, they were down 30-7.
Hillsboro then went on to outscore Sterling 15-8 the closing 5:20, going into the break with a cozy 45-15 lead after Lucas Hamm's shot just beat the buzzer.
Five straight points by Kyle Kroeker to open the second half extended the Trojan lead to 52-15 before Knoll called off the charge. Kroeker and Lucas Hamm ended the game with nine and eight points, respectively.
Weibert and Fast continued to push their way around inside with ease, both hauling in three rebounds a piece and two offensively.
"Peter played really well the first quarter and Wade had a good second quarter," said Knoll. "Both of them did well in the second half, it was nice to get them in."
Fast gave the Trojans a 31-point lead, 58-27, to start the final quarter, scoring six consecutive points.
Once the Bears could get anything going against the Trojans, they were well out of striking distance.
Hillsboro shot a season-high 55 percent from the floor while yielding Sterling a sour 37 percent.
Patrick Harrison came off the bench to pull down a team-high six rebounds to help the Trojans crush the Bears, 35-21.
"I was really happy with how hard we played tonight," Knoll said. "I know [the starters] only played two quarters and two minutes, but they left everything they had on the court. It was a good win."
"The bench play was good and I was really impressed with the first seven."
The Trojans return to action Friday to host Haven after having Mother Nature cancel Tuesday's game in Lindsborg against dangerous Smoky Valley.
Friday's tip-off is slated for around 8 p.m.
