Both Hillsboro basketball teams got off to slow starts against Smoky Valley at Lindsborg Tuesday, but both came away with victories — the girls in a rout, 53-32, and the boys in dramatic style with a 55-51 decision in overtime.
GIRLS — The Trojans made only two of 16 shots from the field in the first quarter, but still managed a 6-4 lead by the end of it, thanks to their defense. A 20-8 advantage in the second quarter put Hillsboro clearly in command. Addie Lackey scored six of Hillsboro?s nine consecutive points in the final 2:05 of the half to create space between the two teams.
Tena Loewen heated up in the third quarter, scoring 10 of her game-high 20 points, to help push the margin to 43-22 by quarter?s end. A three-pointer by Callie Serene at the 2:28 mark gave the Trojans their largest lead of the night, 41-14.
Loewen added six more points in the first 1:17 of the fourth quarter to keep the pressure on the Vikings. Coach Nathan Hiebert eventually cleared his bench for the final minutes as the undefeated Trojans nailed down their fourth straight win of the young season.
BOYS —Hillsboro recovered from a first-quarter punch in the chops to knock out Smoky Valley in overtime, 55-51, for the first Hills?boro boys? victory in Linds?borg since December 2007.
The Trojans appeared to be staggered as the Vikings built a 16-7 lead with 2:00 minutes left in the first period. Christian Ratzlaff offered a three-point basket and Josh Wiebe a two-pointer to close the gap to 18-12 by quarter?s end.
The Trojans regained some composure in the second period, tying the game at 23 when Wiebe scored at the 5:29 mark. After the Vikings edged ahead again, a three by Shaq Thiessen pulled HHS back to within 29-28 by halftime.
A basket by Evan Ollen?burger gave Hillsboro its first lead 27 seconds into the third period. With Smoky ahead, 35-32, with 5:27 left in the quarter, the Trojans scored the next seven points?a two-pointer by Wiebe, a three by Ratzlaff and a two by Jesse Allen?to stake a 39-35 lead with 3:07 left. The game was tied at 41 after three quarters.
The Vikings took their last lead when a Nick Deterding basket and a free throw by Andy Osner put Smoky on top, 48-45.
But Brett, who had been struggling with his shot for much of the game, drained a huge three-pointer with 1:15 left in regulation to tie the game at 48-48. Smoky worked for last shot, but missed both the shot and the put-back with only seconds remaining. Christian Ratzlaff got off a long three as time ran out, but the ball bounced off the rim, sending the contest into overtime.
Weinbrenner continued his crunch-time clutch shooting with another three-pointer 15 seconds into the overtime, then hit a two-point basket with 1:03 left to give HHS a 53-48 lead.
Deterding countered immediately with a three to pull his team to within two with 54 second left. But neither team was able to score again until Evan Ollenburger sank two unneeded free throws with no time showing on the clock for the final 55-51 margin.
Weinbren?ner ended up as Hillsboro?s high-point man with 15 points. Wiebe finished with 10.
