Junior guard Tyler Crandall picked a good time to have a great game.

Crandall sank four 3-pointers and scored a career-high 16 points to help Hillsboro rally from an early seven-point deficit to score a 54–37 Scenic Bluffs Conference victory over Royall last Thursday night.

Fellow junior Max Stockwell pitched in a game-high 24 points on 8 of 16 shooting to along with 10 rebounds to lead the Tigers.

“Tyler was very good Thursday night,” said Hillsboro head coach Curt Hildreth. “We know that he can shoot the ball, his defensive energy got him going on the offensive end.  He played with confidence and when he does that he is a key for us.”

Things didn’t start so well for Crandall and company as the Tigers fell behind 13–6 at the end of the first quarter.
But Hildreth’s club made a run in the second outscoring the Panthers 22–9 to build a 28–22 halftime lead.

“We made the run based upon our defensive intensity,” said Hildreth. “We got some deflections and steals that led to easy buckets. Our guys fed off of that energy and it led to positives on both sides of the floor.”

Hillsboro led by eight going in the fourth quarter and outscored Royall 16–7 in the final eight minutes to win by 17.

Senior Avery Rueckheim finished the game with six points and six rebounds. Junior Hunter Stanek added four points and five rebounds.

Nick Murray scored 16 points to lead the Panthers (4–8, 3–4 SBC).

With the win, Hillsboro improved 10–3 overall and 6–1 in conference play halfway through the SBC schedule.

“All of our goals are still in front of us for this year,” said Hildreth. “We have a lot of work to do by the end of the season, but with the right mind set it will get done.”

Hillsboro hosted New Lisbon Tuesday night and will next travel to Necedah on Friday before hosting Westby in a non-conference game on Tuesday.