Classic third-place split: HHS boys beat Wamego, HHS girls fall short versus Hesston

Hillsboro?s basketball teams completed play Saturday at the Trojan Classic with a couple of third-place games. The girls faced off with rival Hesston, currently ranked No. 1 in Class 3A, and led the Swathers at halftime by three points. But Hesston regrouped for the second half and prevailed, 56-45. The boys faced a physical battle against Wamego, but outlasted and outplayed the Raiders down the stretch for a 60-47 victory. The Trojan girls, ranked sixth in 2A, stand at 10-3 while the Trojan boys, ranked fourth in 2A improved to 12-2.

Danae Bina hits the open three against Hesston. She scored 18 for Hillsboro.?GIRLS — The Trojans faced a stiff challenge against a Swather lineup that features size, athleticism, experience and depth.

Hesston got off to a strong start, building a 17-10 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Swathers were leading 23-15 in the second quarter when a basket by Alex Ratzlaff ignited an 11-0 run to the end of the half. Key to the explosion was the welcome return of Danae Bina?s hot shooting hand. The senior scored seven consecutive points, including a three-pointer and four straight free throws as Hills?boro led at the break, 26-23.

Unfortunately, the game turned in the third quarter. Hillsboro stumbled out of the gate, missing its first three shots and committing turnovers. Hesston took advantage to regain the lead at 32-26 at the 4:15 mark. Bina then cracked the ice with another three-pointer, but Hesston led at the final break 39-33.

For a brief moment, Hillsboro looked like it might have another strong quarter left in the tank when Tara Proffitt and Ratzlaff nailed back-to-back threes in just over a minute of play to tie the game at 39.

But the Swathers looked to the Richardson sisters — Caylee and Cami — for help and the two combined for 12 consecutive points from the 6:27 mark to the 2:44 mark. At that point Hesston was in charge at 51-40, and cruised to the win.

Bina led the Trojans with 18 points and Lackey added 14.

Evan Ollenburger manuevers near the Trojan basket against his Wamego defender.BOYS — Hillsboro used a 21-10 second quarter to change their fortunes against Wamego. Trailing 17-12 after one quarter, Hills?boro got point production from four different players to slip in front, 27-16, late in the period. In the final 47 seconds, Christian Ratzlaff scored a traditional three-point play, then hit a three-point basket from the wing to give Hillsboro a 33-27 lead at intermission. The senior had 16 points by then.

Both teams struggled for points through the first half of the third quarter. But with Hillsboro leading, 37-30, the Raiders pieced together a 9-2 run to tie the game at 39 as the quarter ended.

With tension building when Wamego climbed to within 44-43 with just under 6 minutes left in the game, Jordan Faul drained a huge three-pointer from the corner that swung the momentum Hillsboro?s way. The Trojans got a basket from Evan Ollenburger and then a pair of free throws from Brett Weinbrenner after a technical foul was called on Wamego with 2:35 to go.

Now trailing 51-43, Wamego began fouling. Hillsboro could have salted away the win much earlier if they had made more than three of seven free throws over the next 1:10. Micah Allen then stepped up to be the first Trojans to hit two in a row with 54 seconds left. Weinbrenner ended any lasting suspense when he hit four free throws in succession after fouls were called against two Wamego players on the same layup attempt. The second foul was ruled flagrant as Weinbrenner crashed hard into the pad behind the basket.

Ratzlaff was Hillsboro?s high scorer with 24 points, Weinbrenner finished with 16 and Allen 10. Four other Trojans added points and each player contributed defensively and on the boards and at key moments of the game to aid the Trojan cause.

NEXT — Hillsboro will take this next week off from game comp?etition, then will return to action Feb. 4 at Sterling.

 

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