Trojans pass first round
Hillsboro to face Hutchinson Trinity in semifinals
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
Clay Shewey and David Loewen were mainly reserves last year on a Hillsboro High School basketball team sent packing in the semifinal round of the Halstead sub-state by Southeast of Saline.
With the opportunity to get back to Hillsboro and play another day hanging in the balance Monday night at Gypsum in the opening round of Hillsboro's sub-state, the Hillsboro duo didn't let this one get away.
Shewey scored a game-high 28 points and Loewen tossed in 17, as the Trojans (12-9) ended SES' season, 73-61.
Hillsboro hosts top-seeded Hutchinson Trinity Friday as the Celtics eliminated Remington, 67-49.
"We came to play tonight," excited Trojan coach Darrel Knoll said. "At times this year, we've been really good and the thing we talked about before the game was to leave everything on the floor, play good position and try to keep them off the boards."
The game was a see-saw battle early on, with several lead changes until Hillsboro was able to break an 11-all tie to hop in the driver's seat with Loewen scoring 10 points in the first half.
The Trojans pushed their lead to 34-23 by the break, closing the first half on a 10-2 run.
Daniel Jost scored two of his 11 points for the final basket.
While Hillsboro scorched the nets for a blistering 62 percent from the floor, SES struggled from the field, shooting a frigid 32 percent (9-28) the first half.
Shewey and Loewen combined for 10 points in the third quarter, helping push the Trojans' lead to 48-31 with one minute, 20 seconds left, while Jost added six more points.
SES made a furious rally in the fourth quarter with a 9-2 run which cut the lead to 54-47 with 4:40 to go.
SES again pulled to within seven on a Cole Lilly triple before the Trojans put the game away at the free-throw line.
Hillsboro shot 21-for-26 at the line, including 16-for-18 in the waning 2:13.
Shewey connected on a perfect 6-for-6.
"I was pleased with the free-throw shooting," Knoll said. "We knew this was anybody's sub-state to win and we knew we had as good of a chance to win as anybody, we just have to take it one game at a time, play basketball, execute, and go out and get it."
