HILLSBORO HIGH SCHOOL: Trojans' second half wears out Ellinwood
HHS boys cool off Ellinwood 63-40
BY RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
One month ago to the date, Jan. 7, the Trojans played arguably their best game of the year at Ellinwood, trouncing the Eagles, 68-33.
With the way the Eagles played the first half in Friday night's rematch in Hillsboro, some would have a hard time believing that was the same team the Trojans obliterated.
But the Trojans soothed any worries of a possible letdown, running Ellinwood out of gas the second half and crushing the Eagles 63-40.
Give the Eagles credit.
Winners of six out of their last seven games, the Eagles at least lasted longer than 8:00 minutes in the rematch.
"We really played well both halves," Trojan coach Darrell Knoll said. "They played outstanding the first half, and it was a well-played half for both teams. I was pleased with our game all the way around tonight from start to finish."
The win pushes the Trojans to second in the Class 3A rankings, 13-2 overall and 7-1 in the MCAA, and 5-0 in the middle division.
Knoll looked concerned early despite the Trojans denying the Eagles from ever gaining a lead.
Turnovers, mixed with the speed of the Hillsboro's transition game, left Ellinwood gasping for air.
Two of their 21 mistakes helped the Trojans use a 5-0 run to gain control of the game during a near 4:00 Eagle scoring lapse.
Dustin Jost and Andy Brubacher each tied for game-high honors, scoring 16 points a piece with the two combining for six for 11 from downtown.
Tyler Weinbrenner added 13, hitting the Trojans' last bucket of the first quarter with just under 2:30 to go as the Eagles pulled to 12-11, ending on a 4-0 run.
The second quarter still found Ellinwood hanging around, taking advantage of another Hillsboro scoring lapse in the closing 2:00 of the first half.
Troy Reade swung the momentum back in the Eagles' favor, hitting a running three at the buzzer to keep Ellinwood within 26-23.
"They hit that three right there at the end and gave them momentum," Knoll said. "We kept our composure and kept our poise when they made a run at us in the second quarter."
But somebody forgot to tell the Eagles the second half had started. The Trojans blew the lid off in the third quarter with a 21-9 onslaught.
The Trojans' pressure was too much for Ellinwood to handle as it forced four turnovers, all coming off Weinbrenner steals that Hillsboro was able to convert into nine points.
Brubacher canned a three barely 30 seconds into the second half, and the rout was on.
"The third quarter we just turned up the defense," Knoll said. "They didn't do as good a job of as handling our pressure as they did the first half.
"I wanted to jump on them hard in the third quarter with a little different look and not have them be able to adjust to it at halftime. The second half, I think we just had a little more to throw at them than what they had at us."
Plagued by early foul trouble, Tyler Peachey made up for his absence with a play that is guaranteed to make the Trojans' highlight reel.
The Trojans drove the full length of the court in three passes capped off by Weinbrenner hitting a wide-open Peachey for a fast-break.
Peachey's absence allowed Steve Chisholm to solely carry the load in the middle, and he responded, pulling down a game-high seven rebounds and blocking two shots.
The Trojans host the Sterling Black Bears Friday before traveling Tuesday to Halstead for a rematch with the ranked Dragons.
Nickerson
The Trojans had a battle on their hands Feb. 4 with the hosting Nickerson Panthers.
Few times this season have the Trojans had to dig down deep to prevail, but their 17-9 fourth quarter proved to be the difference in stopping the determined Panthers 59-51.
Nickerson jumped out to a 15-14 lead behind 10 of Hogan Smith's game-high 19 points after the first quarter.
It took four of Jost's seven points for the Trojans to regain the lead at halftime, 26-25, after a 12-10 second quarter.
Weinbrenner scored a team-high 17 points with Brubacher and Peachey adding 14 and 13, respectively. Peachey also pulled down a team-high seven rebounds and Caleb Marsh supplied a season-high six.
Weinbrenner did his damage in the first and third quarters, but the Panthers were bearing down on Hillsboro heading into the final stretch with the game tied at 42-42.
Hillsboro finally pulled away with the trio of Peachey, Brubacher and Weinbrenner comprising the fourth-quarter rally.
Hillsboro 63, Ellinwood 40
Total points: Eric Weinbrenner 3; Brubacher 16; T. Weinbrenner 13; Jost 16; Caleb Marsh 2; Alan Yoder 1; Chisholm 4; Peachey 6; Hughbanks 2.
Rebounds: Brubacher 1; T. Weinbrenner 4, Marsh 2; Chisholm 7; Daniel Deckert 2; Peachey 4; Alan Yoder 3; Hughbanks 4.
Steals: Brubacher 1; T. Weinbrenner 5; Chisholm 3; Peachey 1; Hughbanks 3.
Assists: Brubacher 4; T. Weinbrenner 5; Jost 1; Marsh 3; Deckert 1; Peachey 1; Alan Yoder 1; Hughbanks 1.
