Don Ratzlaff / Free Press Hillsboro’s returning state qualifiers will be the driving force for the girls’ and boys’ teams as the 2007 track and field season begins. Pictured are: back row (from left) Shelby Koons, JuliAnne Chisholm, Tina Frick, Chelsea Bebermeyer, Abi Humber, Tiffany Rooker; front row, Cody McMillen, Sean Leihy, Adam Dirks and Tyler Kaufman. Not pictured: Hannah Marsh.

“We return some excellent seniors, some of whom have been at state for three years and hope to return for a fourth year,” Boldt said. “It’s hard to say that we have any other goal than winning a state championship.”

Boys could surprise

What may surprise some, though, is Boldt’s enthusiasm for the boys’ team.

Don Ratzlaff / Free Press Hillsboro’s JuliAnne Chisholm drives through Cami Racette (24) and Jessie Swander for two points during Saturday’s all-star game. The Trojan senior scored 17 points and pulled down 17 rebounds to earn the MVP award for the MCAA’s 104-64 victory.

It was deja vu all over again at the second annual all-star games between seniors from the Mid-Central Activities Association and the Heart of America League played Saturday at Hesston College.

As in the premiere games last spring, the MCAA girls won in a rout, this time by a 104-64 score, while the MCAA boys prevailed in a cliff-hanger, 86-84.

In the girls’ game, the MCAA rolled to a 13-0 lead before the HOA scored at the 13:51 mark of the first 20-minute half.

The HOA crept back to within 19-14 on a traditional 3-point play by Remington’s Stephanie Entz with 9:52 left in the half.

But back-to-back baskets by Hillsboro’s JuliAnne Chisholm started the MCAA on a 23-12 surge that established a 42-26 lead by intermission.