Hillsboro girls use tenacious defense to punch their ticket to Hutch

Hillsboro High School girls? basketball players and coaches cluster around the sub-state tournament bracket naming them champions of the Class 3A sub-state tournament in Marion on Saturday night. The Trojans, an unlikely state tournament qualifier in the early season, used vise-like defense to squeeze a 38-22 win over Halstead in the title showdown. Posing for their celebration photo are (from left) assistant coach Dennis Boldt, Becky Faber, Emma Heyen, assistant coach Donya Anderson, Jet Skiles, Candace Weinbrenner, Cassie Kroeker, Sarah Unruh, head coach Nathan Hiebert, Abi Humber, Tiffany Rooker, Allie Faul, Dakota Kaufman, Kassidi Luthi, Franny Gottsch.

LEFT: Misty Luthi gives daughter Kassidi a hug following the victory. The Trojan senior came off the bench to lead Hillsboro?s effort on offense with 14 points.