Trojans begin new year with 55-40 victory years ago
BY RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
It would be hard to find fault with the Trojans for having had a confidence boost at the top of their wish list for Christmas, as well as on their list of New Year's resolutions.
The new year is off to a good start for Hillsboro, which ended 2006 at a rare 2-4, with the Trojans (3-4, 2-2 MCAA) shooting a season-high 51 percent from the field Friday night to trounce the visiting Hoisington Cardinals (2-5), 55-40.
Hillsboro will need all the confidence it can get considering what's coming up in the next two weeks with Tuesday night games open all through the month.
On Jan. 12, the Trojans host Ellinwood, before facing a state-tournament caliber Trojan Classic that could have run-ins with the top team in Class 4A-Thomas More Prep, not to mention pest Riley County.
"I thought we really played hard tonight," said Trojan coach Darrell Knoll. "It just looked like we played to win tonight, we had a little better spring in our step, and we were a little more focused. I was really pleased."
That had to be soothing to Knoll, who had to be questioning his team's focus in the finale of 2006 when they were soundly beat 51-33 by their toughest opponent to date — Wichita Collegiate.
Facing a Cardinal team with 6-4 Zac Stetler, 6-3 standout Cameron Horesky, and Trace Hughes, how well the Trojans rebounded and attacked the basket would be pivotal in pulling out a win.
Outdoing Hoisington 29-28 in rebounding, the Trojans were able to finish down low, shooting a blistering 57 percent the first half to maintain a comfortable lead.
Down 14-10 just under a minute into the second quarter, the floor started caving in on the Cardinals.
Lucas Hamm fueled a 9-2 run, scoring 10 of his game-highs 14 points and seven rebounds in the first half.
Hoisington missed 12 straight shots on its way to a horrendous two for 16 in the second quarter to fall behind 29-13 with 1:15 left in the first half.
Making matters worse for the Cardinals, who managed a chilly 24 percent the first half and just 36 for the game, Horesky was already saddled with two fouls and Stetler picked up his third with 2:31 to go before halftime.
When Hillsboro failed to play hard on the rebounds, Hoisington was able to make its best run of the game — -a mere four points — at the free-throw line in the final 1:15 to pull to within 29-17 at the half.
"We had to rebound," Knoll said of Hillsboro's game plan. "They've struggled to shoot the ball just like we have and Stetler and Horesky are great rebounders and they're very athletic. We had to keep them off the boards.
"When they made that run at the end of the second quarter, it was simply because we didn't rebound."
The Trojans were better able to spread the floor and score in transition the second half while getting the ball inside for high-percentage shots.
Hillsboro got a big lift when Stetler was called for his fourth foul 47 seconds into the second half and Hamm, Troy Frick, Darren Enns, and Aaron Stepanek all capitalized, with Frick adding 11 points.
Brett McIntosh's basket, with just under 7:00 left in the game, gave Hillsboro its largest lead of the night, 47-26 and Knoll put in all the reserves before it was over.
"I think we looked like we're in a little better shape tonight," said Knoll. "We were much more active offensively and defensively. It was a step in the right direction tonight."
