Trojans polish off Sterling
Third-ranked Hillsboro boys ward off Black Bear curse with 55-43 win
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
Through the years, Hillsboro has often hit a pothole when it comes to playing at Sterling.
Regardless of how highly the Trojans are ranked, Sterling has always been a tough place to play.
The Trojans even got a scare last month at home against the Black Bears before pulling away for a hard-fought win.
Considering Hillsboro's (14-2, 7-1 MCAA) past luck in Sterling, there was reason to be ominous facing the Black Bears on their home court during a game on Friday the 13th.
Tyler Peachey got hot fast, scoring 12 of his game-season-high 25 to lead the Trojans to a 55-43 win.
The last meeting in Hillsboro, the Trojans exploited the Bears' (6-11, 2-4 MCAA) lack of a presence inside. That proved pivotal in setting Peachey on fire. The Trojans' inside play of Derek Hamm, Daniel Deckert and Peachey stung Sterling for a combined 44 points, not to mention helping Hillsboro outrebound the opposition, 27-17.
Hamm pulled down a team-high seven rebounds with Deckert snagging five.
When it came to getting out of the garage, Sterling forgot to hit the open button, smashing into the door and trailing big after the first quarter, 19-5.
With the first 8:00 in the book, the big question was whether the Trojans could keep up the intensity the rest of the way.
With six points from Hamm, and three each from Caleb Marsh and Peachey, Hillsboro cruised into the break with a commanding 31-13 lead.
There was still 16:00 left in the game and a plenty of time for the Black Bears to get back in it with the sharpshooting of Dallas Schnurr and Kevin Laudermilk.
Much to the Trojans' dismay, they hit a drought to start the third quarter, and Sterling cut the lead to 33-23 nearly 3:00 into the second half.
Four points from Peachey and a three by long distance specialist Eric Weinbrenner, Hillsboro was still in front heading into the final stretch, 40-29.
The Trojans had to earn it down the stretch and Hillsboro did, hitting 7 for 11 at the free throw line and an identical 14 for 19 overall.
Hillsboro's inside play was big, hampering Sterling for 32 percent from the field while the perimeter defense surrendered 39 percent and 34 on the night.
Inside play aided the Trojans in hitting 13 for 26 from the floor while the long distance shooting chalked up 42 percent for 48 in the game.
The Trojans face a bitter rival Friday night when struggling Wichita Collegiate visits for an 8 p.m. showdown.
Hillsboro then takes to the road Tuesday at Haven before closing out the regular season two days later in a make-up game at Ellinwood.
