Trojan boys outrun Roadrunners
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports Writer
Through 19 successful seasons at the Trojan helm, coach Darrell Knoll's teams had never opened a season with an 0-3 record.
The worst start he'd had was the 1993-94 season, opening 0-2. That team won 17 straight before falling at sub-state.
But 13 years later, on Saturday, an 0-3 start was again possible, as Hillsboro faced Chaparral in the fifth-place game of the Cardinal Classic in Cheney.
The victory-starved Trojans (1-2) used a big second quarter to destroy the Roadrunners, 63-33, for Hillsboro's first win.
The Trojans hope to take that momentum into Friday's home game against Nickerson. Tip-off is scheduled for around 7:30 p.m.
The first two games of the season weren't pretty for Hillsboro.
The Trojans had lost the first game of the tournament Dec. 4 to the Cardinals. On Friday against Smoky Valley, a strong defensive showing was offset by 28 percent shooting, and Hillsboro lost 40-32.
The Trojans also were hampered Friday by the absence of Troy Frick, who was sidelined with sickness.
In Saturday's game, played just 15 hours later, the Trojans found their shooting touch, hitting 49 percent from the field and a solid 82 percent at the free-throw line.
"Some of the guys are starting to get their stroke back," Knoll said. "These guys are better shooters than what we've been so far. We're still finding our legs and the right shots to take.
"It's just a matter of getting our chemistry around and putting the ball in the basket."
Fast-break points were pivotal in helping the Trojans leave the Roadrunners in the dust the second quarter with a 20-2 run that put Hillsboro on top at the half, 34-11.
The Lady Trojans won its first two games of the season and made it to the finals of the Cardinal Classic, but early foul trouble and icy shooting against a stronger Clearwater team led to a stunning 45-25 defeat.
With 1:57 left in the first quarter, senior JuliAnne Chisholm picked up her third foul, forcing her to miss the remainder of the first half.
"We had nine turnovers at halftime and didn't have a field goal the second quarter," said Trojans coach Dale Honeck.
Still, the school principal found something positive in the loss.
"I'm glad we're here, and that's the important thing — that we got to this point," he said.
Both Hillsboro teams traveled Tuesday for games against Halstead. Friday's home game for the girls against Nickerson begins at 6 p.m.
On Dec. 19, the Lady Trojans travel to Wichita to face defending 3A champion Collegiate.
