ORIGINALLY WRITTEN DON RATZLAFF
An intense Hillsboro High School girls’ basketball team battled well on both ends of the court and defeated the Junction City Bluejays 52-44 Friday night to win third place at the Southeast of Saline Invitational.
Junction City struck first blood with three points in the first minute, but the Trojans than launched a remarkable 19-2 run that lasted to the 3:36 mark of the second quarter. Katie Fast scored 10 of those points and Hannah Marsh seven.
Junction City then warmed up from the floor to score nine points, but three baskets by JuliAnne Chisholm in the last 2:31 kept HHS ahead at the half, 25-14.
The second half turned into a battle as Junction City turned up the defensive pressure. The Bluejays, behind the offensive assertiveness of Brianna Buchannan cut the lead to to five points, 36-31, with 5:44 left in the game.
But Hillsboro refused to wilt. The Trojans spent the rest of the game at the free throw line and made 16 of 23 tosses to preserve the victory. Chisholm hit 5 of 11, Emily Ratzlaff 7 of 8 and Marsh and Fast were both 2 for 2.
Those four girls finished the game in double figures. Fast led the way with 14, Chisholm had 13, Ratzlaff 12 and Marsh 10.
With the win, the Trojans are 8-5 on the season.
Trojan girls beat Junction City to capture third at SES tourney
