Lady Trojans trip Red Raiders for third place
19-7 third quarter
helps Hillsboro
edge Wamego, 48-44
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
JuliAnne Chisholm couldn't have picked a better time to come to life Saturday night with the Lady Trojans in a 27-19 bind at halftime in the third place game of the Trojan Classic against the Wamego Lady Raiders.
After being held to just four points through the first half, Chisholm broke loose for 18 the second half to help Hillsboro (6-6) turn back Wamego with a 48-44 win to capture third.
For more than half of their six losses, the Trojans have faltered at the foul line, where they're barely hitting over 50 percent.
Another 53 percent night on eight-for-15 kept the Raiders in the game longer than they could have been.
Hillsboro got off to a shaky start, shooting 33 percent from the floor, with the Raiders enjoying the lead almost the entire first half, thanks in part to their rebounding.
Despite being outdone overall, 37-27, thanks to Chisholm's three of a team-high eight, Hillsboro beat Wamego on the offensive glass, 14-11, on second- chance baskets.
The Trojans came out a new team to start the second half as Lora Andrews sparked a 13-0 run which gave Hillsboro its first lead since the opening minute of the game.
The third quarter belonged to Chisholm, who racked up 10 of her 22 in a 2:00 span, picking the Raiders' pockets a game-high four times through the game.
While the Trojans were the ones who couldn't get anything going the first half, the shoe was on the other foot for the Raiders the second as Hillsboro's defense hassled Wamego into shooting 33 percent from the floor.
Hillsboro caught fire, hitting 57 percent the second half for 44 percent for the game, cashing in 18 Raider turnovers for 13 points.
Amy Neufeld came off the bench for Hillsboro to pitch in nine points while Andrews added six.
Trisha Grothe's two threes the second half kept the Trojans from running away with it with Wamego hitting all three of 13 three-point attempts.
With time rapidly becoming an opponent for the Raiders, they had to resort to fouling to conserve the clock.
The Trojans could've sealed up it earlier had it not been for a ragged five-for-11 at the free-throw line the second half.
Hillsboro returns to action Friday night when they host Marion in a 6 p.m. tip-off.
CAIR-PARAVEL
A tough 39-25 loss in the opening round Jan. 17 to eventual runner-up Riley County sent the Trojans to the consolation bracket Thursday where they faced the Cair-Paravel Lady Lions.
The Trojans got off to a fast start and were able to cruise to a 58-32 win over their opponents from Topeka as the Lions self-destructed from the tip-off.
Chisholm scored a game-high 16 points, including 10 in the first half and Tina Frick added 13 with six each coming as part of a 19-7 first-quarter blitz.
Hillsboro put up 15 more points the second quarter while holding the Lions to a paltry two to take a commanding 34-9 lead at the break.
Going against a sweltering Trojan defense, which yielded them a freezing 17 percent from the floor the first half, the Lions put out their most explosive offensive output the third quarter with 15 points.
But the Lions were way out of striking distance by then with the Trojans firmly in control, up 52-24.
Hannah Marsh scored nine points, combining with Chisholm for eight steals with four each.
Cair-Paravel spotted the Trojans a 24-point boost, committing a fatal 28 turnovers and making a putrid 12 field goals.
Amy Neufeld only scored three-points, but hauled in a game-high 10 rebounds with four offensive.
