Hillsboro gets big win over defending 3A champions

Matthew Potucek looks to move the ball against Halstead last week during the first game back after Christmas break. Hillsboro got a huge win over the Class 3A State Champions from last year, 67-49. Laura Fowler Paulus / Free PressHILLSBORO- With the defending Class 3A State Champion Halstead Dragons in the house, the Hillsboro Boys Basketball team got out to a hot start, 12-5, and carried that momentum to a victory, 67-49, in the first game back from break.

“I thought it was a great team win tonight. We had really good play off the bench. We had foul trouble and Joe (Knoll) got hurt, but guys came in and really just picked up the pace and played hard,” Hillsboro Head Coach Darrel Knoll said. “We kept playing through mistakes and didn’t quit. We did a really good job off the boards and keeping them off their rhythm. Other than giving up transition baskets, I thought we played extremely well.”

The Trojans did play well, out rebounding Halstead by 20, and shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor on offense.

Wes Shaw was on fire for Hillsboro, scoring 20 points and adding 11 rebounds for the game. Darian Ratzlaff had 11 points as the second leading scorer for the Trojans.

Hillsboro played Pratt on Tuesday after press deadline, and will then play at Haven on Friday, January 11 after the girls game is final.

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