Staff writer
Hillsboro’s girls went 1-2 in last week’s Trojan Classic, falling to 9-3 overall but salvaging a fourth place finish.
Hillsboro whipped Republic County in the opener, 46-15, but Holcomb hung on to win the semifinal, 49-46, to send the Trojans to a third-place game. The Trojans didn’t have enough happen in a 47-43 loss to the Eureka Tornadoes.
“We played much better Saturday compared to Friday,” Trojan coach Micah Ratzlaff said. “That was our challenge to the girls. They responded well, but we played a very good team in Eureka and they made a couple more plays down the stretch which was the difference.
“I am enjoying tough competition. That is what this team needs, and I’m proud of our girls’ efforts Saturday.”
Zaylee Werth scored a game-high 13 points while Savannah Shahan and Kori Arnold combined for 18 with nine each.
Marion takes 4th
The fifth-seed Warriors defeated fourth seed Wakefield to open up the Cougar classic. In the second round on Friday, first-seed Elyria stopped the Warriors in their tracks, 40-26. Elyria would go on to win the tourney championship.
Marion faced sixth seed Douglass for third on Saturday but wasn’t able to close the gap in the end, losing 51-44.
“We did some nice things this past week, but had a couple of stretches in our games on Friday and Saturday that hurt us,” coach Jason Hett said. “I like how we are competing and growing, but we have to continue to get better on the defensive side of the ball and finish those possessions with a rebound.”
Marion’s next game will be on the road Friday against Council Grove.
Centre finished 8th
Centre’s girls, a young team, finished 0-3 in the Cougar Classic. Most starters and leading scorers are sophomores.
After falling to Wakefield, 48-23 in the first round, Centre lost to Elyria, 54-14, on Friday and Smoky Valley Homeschool Educators, 47-32, on Saturday.
Olivia Carlson averaged 10 points a game. Against Smoky Valley, Carlson scored 11 points; Kaity Bina, 9; and Hailey Barlow, 7.
Goessel nearly wins
Aimee and Abbigail Funk were the only Bluebirds to score in the first quarter Friday as Moundridge led 16-4 at the break.
The Goessel defense began to work as the Bluebirds allowed the Wildcats only six points in the second quarter, and Goessel narrowed the deficit, trailing 22-14 at halftime.
Braylyn Hoopes connected on two three-pointers, Abbigail Funk made a layup, and when Cheyenne Sawyer hit a three-pointer, the Bluebirds led 25-24. The third quarter ended 27-27.
Moundridge went on a six-point run early in the fourth quarter. Again, Goessel found some life in the high-scoring quarter as Cheyenne Sawyer converted several layups after steals, Sarah Spurlin scored from close range, and Riley Graber hit four of four free-throws. But the Bluebirds ran out of time and ended up losing, 44-40.
Sawyer led the Bluebirds with 12 points. Hoopes swished 10 points.
The Goessel girls will be at Fairfield this week. The Bluebirds ended the week 5-5 overall.