Hillsboro split its games at Halstead Friday night (Feb. 15.). The girls won their third straight game with a 48-35 victory while the boys lost to the Dragons, 68-60.
In the girls’ game, the Trojans broke a 6-6 tie after one quarter and jumped to a 21-11 margin by halftime, thanks in good measure to seven points from Amy Neufeld and four from Dakota Kaufman.
The margin remained fairly constant through the second half. Trojans led 30-21 after three quarters before finishing with the 13-point victory.
Neufeld finished with 15 points and Kaufman 13. Hillsboro is now 8-9 for the season and 5-3 in league play.
In an important match up for post-season positioning at sub-state, the Trojans and Dragons squared off in another hard-fought physical contest. Hillsboro narrowly defeated Halstead in a similar battle earlier this season.
This night, however, Halstead took the lead on a 3-point basket just over a minute into the game and never trailed, although Hillsboro did tie the game at 13 later in the quarter and the final outcome was in doubt until the final minute.
Halstead lead 38-31 at halftime and 51-46 after three quarters. A basket by Daniel Jost to open the fourth quarter brought the Trojans to within three points, but less than a minute later, a steal by Halstead that ended in a layup and bonus free throw on a foul proved to be a pivotal swing as Halstead went ahead 54-48. The Trojans never got closer than five points after that.
David Loewen scored 21, Jost 14 and Clay Shewey for the Trojans, who slipped to 10-7 overall and 6-2 in league play. Halstead improved to 10-7 and 6-2. The two teams have been assigned to the Hillsboro sub-state, but could play as the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds, with the higher seed getting homecourt advantage in the first round of play.
Hillsboro boys and girls play at Wichita Collegiate tomorrow, weather permitting. Game time is 5:30 for the girls and 7 p.m. for the boys.
