Trojan boys nab first place at Chapman
Third-ranked Hillsboro boys knock off Chapman, Rock Creek, and Abilene
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
If the Trojans were looking for a way to see how they measured up to start the season, they hit the jackpot.
For the first time this decade, Hillsboro not only had to show what it was made of at the end of the season, but the beginning as well.
The Trojans opened the season last week, competing in the six-team Dickinson County Classic at Chapman.
The season got off to a great start with the Trojans (3-0) upending three quality teams, starting Dec. 7 against the hosting Fighting Irish and concluding Saturday against Abilene in the final game.
Hillsboro captured the title, neutralizing the 6-7 Cowboy standout Ryan Herrman and grabbing a 46-34 win.
It wasn't the prettiest display for either team, shooting or offensively.
Luckily, it was the harassing Trojan defense that pressured the Cowboys into shooting the worst, an ice-cold 21 percent overall and 13 percent from three-point range.
Hillsboro coped with 32 percent shooting from the floor, connecting for 36 percent from long range.
If you're playing the Trojans, you don't want to allow Eric Weinbrenner to get hot. He does and it's bad news for opponents.
There's more than just Weinbrenner to worry about this year.
Transfer Patrick Harrison, too.
And the duo proved that, combining for 4-of-11 from downtown with Harrison flushing three en route to a team-high 13 points.
Kyle Kroeker, Lucas Hamm, and Derek Hamm combined for 21 points with seven each while Derek and Lucas pulled down team-high seven rebounds each as Hillsboro outdid Abilene on the glass, 26-21.
Kroeker dished out a game-high three assists, one more than the Cowboys could manage altogether.
Hillsboro jumped out to an 11-6 lead after the first quarter with Abilene hindered by poor shooting right out of the gate.
That caught up with the Trojans despite outscoring the Cowboys 8-1 in closing minutes of the first half as they staggered into halftime with a 22-15 lead.
But Abilene wouldn't go quietly, trimming the lead to 29-25 heading into the final stretch.
Being held to seven points through 36:00, Herrman warmed up to keep the Cowboys on Hillsboro's heels, to score six in a row to cut the lead to 32-31 with just under 6:00 left.
Hillsboro outscored the Cowboys 14-3 from there out with Harrison adding six from downtown.
The Trojans shot 17-for-24 from the foul line, with Kroeker sinking four in the fourth quarter to make it a three possession game for the Cowboys with under 1:30 remaining.
On deck for the Trojans will be the visiting Ellinwood Eagles around 8 p.m. Friday.
Rock Creek
The Trojans had to fight through a halftime deficit Friday in the semifinal game against the Rock Creek Mustangs to knock out a 54-42 win.
Six points from Derek Hamm, combined with five from Weinbrenner gave the Trojans a 14-12 lead after the first quarter. Derek Hamm scored a team-high 11 points with Daniel Deckert chipping in 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Harrison followed in the balanced scoring with nine points and Kroeker and Weinbrenner each had seven to go along with a game-high eight assists, three steals for Weinbrenner.
But the Trojans were outscored 11-8 in the second quarter to give the Mustangs a 23-22 lead at the break.
The Trojans pulled away in the third quarter, doubling over the Mustangs in scoring, 18-9 to grab a 40-32 edge to start the fourth.
Hillsboro shot 44 percent from the field, limiting Rock Creek to 42 amidst the Trojans shooting 38 percent from outside.
Chapman
The Trojans opened the season Dec. 7 with a 59-52 win over the Fighting Irish paced by Derek Hamm's career-high double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds.
Chapman's outside shooting kept the Irish in the game, hitting 5-for-10 while the Trojans struggled with 4-of-15.
Six of Derek Hamm's 22 points pushed the Trojan lead to 11-9 to start the second quarter.
The Irish countered with Robert Black's 17 points, eight coming in the first half as Chapman trailed at the break, 28-24.
Hillsboro held Black scoreless the third quarter, but the Irish used a 15-9 run to take a 39-37 lead heading into the final lap.
That was when Derek Hamm and Weinbrenner took over, Derek scoring eight points and Weinbrenner five.
Derek hit a near flawless 6-for-8 at the free throw line with Weinbrenner scoring seven of his 10 points from the line off eight attempts. Deckert added 11 points.
The Trojans shot 41 percent from the floor, while the Irish connected on 47 percent of their shots.
Hillsboro went 15-for-22 at the line for 68 percent.
