Staff writer
The Hillsboro High School girls basketball team defeated Marion, 52-21, Tuesday, maintaining their winning streak.
The Trojans were led by Tena Loewen who recorded 11 points and 8 rebounds. All of Loewen’s points were scored on shots within five feet of the basket. To set the tone for Hillsboro, she scored the first basket of the game driving straight at Marion shot blocker Whitney Gordon.
Regardless of the tactics used by Marion, Hillsboro was overpowering.
Hillsboro defenders played full court man-to-man defense all game, keeping their Marion counterparts on their hips throughout the contest. Hillsboro forced 30 turnovers and nabbed 18 steals. The Trojans were also adept at playing stout defense off the ball, denying passing lanes to their opponents.
Gordon was held to 4 points in the first quarter. She was setting up in the post and seemed poised for a breakout offensive game until Loewen discovered the best way to guard the 6-foot-2 junior was to not let her get the ball.
Gordon scored 6 points in the game to lead Warrior scorers. She was shut out during the second and third quarters, finally getting back on the score sheet in the fourth quarter.
Katey Ehrlich and Megan Richmond each scored 4 points for the Warriors, who shot 21.9 percent for the game, 16.7 percent in the second half.
In an area where the Warriors usually shine, Hillsboro out-rebounded Marion 34 to 21. The Trojans secured 18 offensive rebounds and held Gordon to 4 total rebounds.
Hillsboro shot 43.1 percent from the field with nine Trojans recording points.
The Lady Trojans will meet Halstead on Jan. 4 in an away game.
Boys lose, 33-23
The Hillsboro High School boys basketball team defeated Marion, 33-23, Tuesday in Marion.
The game was close until Hillsboro pulled away in the fourth quarter. Caleb Hilliard led the Trojan charge with 7 points in the final frame. The senior guard hit two free throws, a 3-pointer, and an uncontested baseline layup that put the Trojans up 29-21.
While 8 points is usually a surmountable margin — only two 3-pointers and a 2-point field goal — the Warriors struggled offensively. Marion shot 17.5 percent for the game, which made the deficit more difficult to overcome.
Thankfully for Marion, the game against the Trojans was played on a Tuesday; if it were a Friday matchup, the game may have never been within striking distance for the Warriors. Forward Dane Purkeypile, who does not play on Fridays, scored 9 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Warriors. He had 5 of Marion’s 9 points at halftime and 9 of the team’s 18 points at the end of the third quarter.
Marion’s usual high scorer, Jordan Hett, was held scoreless in the first half, but hit a running floater in the middle of the lane and a 3-pointer from the right side of the key to end the third quarter for the Warriors. He ended the game with 9 points.
As one of coach Jeff McMillin’s points of emphasis for the season, Marion did outrebound the Trojans 32 to 23.
After Hilliard put the Trojans up by 8, Brett Weinbrenner was fouled scoring a layup on an inbound pass and hit the free throw.
On a possession a few plays later, Jesse Allen drove along the baseline and dished a pass to Josh Wiebe for an open 3-footer in the middle of the lane to seal the win for Hillsboro.