With a defending Division 5 state runner-up basketball team walking the very same halls on a daily basis, this year’s Hillsboro girls basketball team is looking to make a little noise of their own.
The Tigers continued their white-hot start with three more lopsided victories last week.
The Tigers thumped De Soto 68–26 last Tuesday, then scored a big 60–41 Scenic Bluffs Conference win at Royall on Thursday before routing visiting Viroqua Friday night, 50–28.
The Tigers improved to 5–0 on the season with the three straight victories and have now outscored their opponents by an average of 26.6 points per game so far this year.
Tigers’ head coach Scott Egan said his team looked a little flat early in Friday’s win over Viroqua (1–6) just one night after beating previously undefeated Royall (4–1, 0–1 SBC).
“We looked sluggish after our big matchup against Royall from the previous night,” said Egan. “Viroqua was able to stick with us most of the first half, only trailing by 13 at the intermission. But we were sort of able to find a groove in the second half, extending the lead into the 20s and eventually winning by 22.”
Hillsboro shot just 34.3 percent (23-for-67) from the field, missing 38 shots in the paint, and missed 12 of 18 free throw attempts. But the Tigers’ defense limited the Blackhawks to just 12 made baskets in the game.
Junior center Shelby Levy recorded a double–double of 12 points and 10 rebounds and had four blocked shots. Senior center Morgan Huntley added four points and team-high 12 rebounds. Sophomore Sydney Johnson chipped in nine points, five steals and four assists.
In Thursday’s win over at Royall, the Tigers had to come from behind.
The Panthers jumped out to an 11–6 lead, but senior Destiny Shore crushed the momentum with a clutch three-pointer to pull the Tigers within two and ignite a 27–8 Hillsboro run to close the half.
Shore picked up her third foul in the middle of the first half, but Hillsboro was able to keep on rolling.
“We were aggressive defensively all night and held Royall in check most of the night,” said Egan.
Johnson and Huntley each scored 15 points to pace the Tigers. Johnson also led the team with six rebounds and four steals.
Shore finished with nine points, and senior April Thorson added eighth points.
Senior Mackenzie Sullivan contributed four points, four rebounds and three assists.
Last Tuesday, Huntley posted a career-night double–double with 22 points and 15 rebounds against the smaller, outmanned De Soto Pirates.
Hillsboro led 44–16 at the half and extended the advantage to 42 points by holding De Soto (1–4) to just 10 second-half points.
Shore finished with 14 points and six steals, and Johnson reached double figures with 10 points. Sullivan passed out a team-high six assists.
The Tigers traveled to Wonewoc–Center (0–4, 0–1) on Tuesday and will next host Brookwood (3–2, 1–0) on Friday. Hillsboro will host Ithaca in a non-conference game on Monday and travel to Riverdale on Tuesday to complete a stretch of four games in eight days.
