Late free throw spells doom for Lady Trojans
By JENNIFER WILSON
News editor
One free throw in the last 30 seconds of the game was all it took Friday night to give Smoky Valley the win over Hillsboro.
The final score, 37-36, rightly indicates a close game where the host Vikings never led by more than two points.
The first quarter began with a boost of offensive firepower for both teams — a start that Hillsboro had so far failed to capture this season. At the end of the first, the Trojans held a slim 16-15 lead behind Katie Fast's six points.
Things slowed down considerably in the second quarter, with both teams scoring just six points. For Hillsboro, four of those came from April Funk, who had a field goal and went two for two from the foul line.
Amy Duerksen also tossed in a bucket that quarter to give the Trojans a 22-21 lead heading into halftime.
The third quarter again saw Funk step up her game, scoring all of the team's field goals in that period. Add in two free throws from Emily Ratzlaff, who went perfect from the line Friday night, and the Trojans scored eight points in the third.
But evenly distributed scoring from the Vikings boosted Smoky Valley to a two-point lead by the end of the third, making the score 31-30 heading into the final quarter.
Fouls send both sides to the line in the fourth quarter, but missed shots by the Trojans proved to be their downfall. With Smoky Valley's Lindsey Edwards making the front end of a one-plus at the foul line with 16 seconds to go, the Vikings clinched the 37-36 win.
After Christmas break, the Trojans face Salina Central on Friday, Jan. 3.
