HILLSBORO HIGH SCHOOL: Girls slam Halstead 46-22 years ago
Girls fall to Sterling at home Friday
It was a case of too little, too late.
Although the Hillsboro High School girls' basketball team came within one point in the final minute of the game, they couldn't get that elusive lead. They lost to Sterling Friday night 52-47.
The Lady Trojans had a strange shooting night — they hit 62.5 percent of their three-point shots and only 27 percent of their two-point shots. That high percentage of threes was mainly thanks to Emily Ratzlaff, who hit four of five treys en route to scoring 13 points.
Sterling started fast, gaining a 16-13 at the end of the first quarter. They continued to maintain that narrow lead into the second, staying around four points ahead of the Trojans. With less than four minutes in the half, Sterling went to the foul line and made both shots, getting a 24-18 lead.
Free-throw shots continued to be important for the final few minutes, with Amy Duerksen making two to make the score 24-20, then another Sterling foul shot making it 25-20. That's the lead that Sterling took into halftime.
Hillsboro started the third quarter with a quick three pointer by Ratzlaff, narrowing Sterling's lead to 25-23. A couple minutes later, two more foul shots by Duerksen again narrowed the lead to two, 27-25.
But with under a minute to go in the third, Sterling drove inside, got two, and boosted their lead to 37-29. The Trojans were able to cut it to 37-30 at the end of the quarter.
Ratzlaff was back with the trey in the fourth quarter, making the score 37-34. But Sterling's lead stayed in the three- to six-point range for the majority of the quarter.
That is, until the clock passed the minute mark. With just over 40 seconds left, April Funk went to the foul line and made both shots, making the lead 46-44. Sterling rushed downcourt on the next possession, giving them another four-point lead — until Ratzlaff struck again with a three, making it 48-47. With 20 seconds left, Hillsboro took a time out.
For the remainder of the contest, Hillsboro's strategy was to immediately foul any Sterling player touching the ball. Unfortunately for the Trojans, the Sterling players made their free throws, giving Hillsboro little opportunity to tie the game. Sterling won 52-47.
Halstead
The Lady Trojans snapped a losing streak Tuesday night as they easily handled Halstead, defeating the Dragons 46-???(ask cathy)
Hillsboro jumped out to an early 16-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. While shooting 59 percent from two-point range and 57 percent from three-point range, the Trojans had little trouble upending the host Dragons.
Lead scorer for the game was April Funk, who racked up 18 points on two of five three-point shooting and six of eight from two-point range. Funk also grabbed two rebounds and five steals and dished out three assists.
Other scorers included Davis with nine, Ratzlaff with eight, Fast with six, Sara Hamm with four, and Duerksen with one. Duerksen also pulled down eight rebounds, seven of them offensive.
STERLING 52, HILLSBORO 47
Total points: Ratzlaff 13, Fast 13, Funk 9, Duerksen 7, Davis 5.
Rebounds: Duerksen 6, Ratzlaff 4, Fast 4, Davis 4, Funk 1.
Steals: Ratzlaff 2, Duerksen 2, Davis 1, Funk 1.
Assists: Funk 4, Ratzlaff 2, Davis 1.
