Trojans fend off Black Bear scare
Derek Hamm has career game as Hillsboro boys beat Sterling, 59-45
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
Trojan coach Darrell Knoll was worried Tuesday night. Facing a team with a pair of gunners like visiting Sterling's Kevin Laudermilk and Dallas Schnurr, Knoll had every reason to be.
The duo proved that all night long, or at least until Laudermilk fouled out with 4:51 left in the game.
With just four Black Bears making it into the scoring column, the Trojans used a balanced scoring attack, paced by Derek Hamm's career-game-high 19 points, to stymie Sterling, 59-45.
"Sterling is a really good team, and I knew that coming in," Knoll said. "Laudermilk is a good player, and Schnurr is an excellent shooter. We knew we had our hands full in match-ups with those two guys."
That was evident with the two scoring the first six Black Bear points in the opening 2:30.
One of the Trojans' game plans was to exploit the Black Bears' lack of size inside.
With three players on the roster at 6'2" or more, Sterling didn't have an answer for the lanky 6'5" Hamm inside.
Of the Trojans 15 first-half misses from 29 attempts, Hamm was there to score six points from second chances.
J.D. Buggeln finished as Sterling's second leading scorer before fouling out late with 11.
Many of Hamm's high percentage shots he simply laid in, scoring six of the Trojans' 13 first-quarter points and ending the first half with 14.
The Trojans' play slowed down.
"I think a lot of it was we got caught early, and we just weren't moving our feet," said Knoll of the Trojans' change in pace. "We were a little behind on jumping to the ball so we got caught with some cheap fouls. Because of that we got called for some things we don't really want to give up."
That was when Sterling used an 8-2 run to regain the lead, 16-15, after Schnurr's basket with just under 6:30 left in the first half.
The lead changed hands three more times before Tyler Peachey gave Hillsboro a four-point lead with 1:20 remaining until the break, and the Trojans never looked back.
With a 31-27 lead at half-time, the Trojan defense hunkered down the second half.
Missing just nine of their 20 shots the first half, the Black Bears didn't get as many looks the second.
Hamm scored six more points, including the Trojans' first two baskets of the second half from offensive rebounds, as Hillsboro's lead inflated to 35-27.
Daniel Deckert and Peachey finished with 10 and nine points, respectively, pitching in the third quarter to help Hillsboro gain a 47-38 lead to start the fourth.
Eric Weinbrenner chipped in 10 points as well, sinking two triples.
Peachey's biggest move of the game came after Hamm missed the second of his two free throws with 4:51 left after Laudermilk was hit with his fifth foul.
Peachey was there a second later for the put back to push Hillsboro's lead to double digits, 52-41.
"We had a good run on them toward the end of the third quarter," said Knoll. "We really were able to maintain the fourth quarter.
"I was pleased with the second half and I was pleased with the whole game. Derek was really active on the boards, and he had a great game."
The third-ranked 7-1 Trojans face another tough test at home Friday night against the Halstead Dragons.
The Dragons boast another of 3A's most dangerous players in guard Jordan Regehr.
Game time is scheduled for around 8 p.m.
Lyons
Despite a rough second quarter Jan. 9 in Lyons, the Trojans were able to use a strong first quarter to help finish off the Lions, 62-43.
Peachey scored a game-high 21 points behind four-for-five from downtown, scoring nine of the Trojans' 17 first-quarter points.
Hillsboro out-rebounded the Lions 29-20, with Peachey falling a rebound shy of a double-double. He also finished with team-highs of five assists and four steals.
Lyons came back the second quarter, using a 15-8 run to pull to a 25-22 deficit at half-time.
The Lions stung the Trojans with long-range shooting, hitting eight for 16 on the game with Kevin Sechrist and Blaine Clark combining for six.
Hampered by 32 percent shooting from the field, Lyons' perimeter shooting was all it had going for it.
The second half has proved to be pivotal all season for the Trojans, and Friday's was no different with Hillsboro doubling the Lions over in fourth quarter scoring, 22-11.
Peachey capped off his evening canning two more threes, and Hamm scored all eight of his points.
The Trojans hit 45 percent from the floor for the game with 47 percent coming from behind the arc.
