BANGOR — Hillsboro took a huge first step toward winning this year’s Scenic Bluffs Conference title Friday night.

The Tigers’ senior big men, Max Stockwell and Hunter Stanek, dominated the paint as second-ranked Hillsboro handed third-ranked Bangor its first loss of the season, 74–64, on the Cardinals’ home court.

Stockwell scored a game-high 32 points on 10 of 18 shooting (8 of 11 on two-point shots) and made 10 of 11 free throws to lead the Hillsboro charge. Stockwell also grabbed 10 rebounds, four steals and had four assists for the Tigers.

Stanek added 16 points on 7 of 10 shooting and pulled down six boards.

Senior guard Joe Helgerson played his usual, solid all-around game, finishing with nine points, six rebounds and five assists. He also went 6 for 6 from the free throw line.

“The key for us was getting the ball inside, which we did most of the game, but also defensively we held them in check for the most part, which we knew we had to do coming in to the game,” said Hillsboro head coach Curt Hildreth.

The Tigers (9–0, 5–0) shot 51.1 percent (23 for 45) from the field, including 69.2 percent (18 for 26) on shots in the paint, and went 23 for 26 (88.5 percent) from the free throw line.

Hillsboro led by as many as 18 points in the second half, until the Cardinals (10–2, 4–1 SBC) hit four straight three-pointers to trim the lead to eight.

Bangor made nine three-pointers in the game, four by Luke Reader and three by Andrew Piske.

Reader finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Piske added 17 points and two rebounds.

That’s as close as Bangor would get.

Stockwell made 8 of 9 from the line in the final three minutes to keep the Cardinals at arm’s length.

“This is a great team win to build on, but it is just a January game,” added Hildreth. “Everything we want to accomplish is out in front of us and we must put in the work to reach our team goals.”

Hillsboro 69, Cashton 26

Last Tuesday, Hildreth’s boys hammered visiting Cashton 69–26.

Stockwell scored a game-high 20 points, Helgerson finished with 12 and Stanek added 10 for the Tigers, who led 52–9 at the half.

Hillsboro will travel to Necedah (6–4, 4–1 SBC) tonight for 7:30 p.m. conference game. The Tigers will travel to New Lisbon (1–10, 0–4 SBC) on Tuesday.

Hillsboro 69, Cashton 26
(from Tuesday, Jan. 12 @ Hillsboro)
Cashton       9    17     — 26
Hillsboro   52    17     — 69
Cashton (1–8, 0–4) – Bulter 8, Bennette 5, Hurtz 7, Butler 6. Totals – 26.
Hillsboro (8–0, 4–0) – Joe Helgerson 12, Tyler Crandall 4, Ben Mayberry 5, Adrian Marquez 2, Tommy Crandall 5, Hunter Stanek 10, Max Stockwell 20, Ethan Thorson 8, Justin Nemec 2, Ashton Mislivecek 1. Totals – 27-53 6-12 69.
3-point goals – C: 2; H: 9 (Joe Helgerson 4, Mayberry 1, Stockwell 1, Thorson 1). Team fouls – C: 12; B: 7. Fouled out – none.

Hillsboro 74, Bangor 64
(from Friday, Jan. 15 @ Bangor)
Hillsboro   38    36     — 74
Bangor      31    33     — 64
Bangor (10–1, 4–1) – Caleb Miedema 2, Kellen Kravik 4, Sam Johnson 3, Andrew Piske 17, Drew Johnson 4, Jack Reader 8, Luke Reader 26. Totals – 25-66 5-10 64.
Hillsboro (9–0, 5–0) – Joe Helgerson 9, Tyler Crandall 3, Tommy Crandall 4, Hunter Stanek 16, Max Stockwell 32, Ethan Thorson 8. Totals – 23-45 23-26 74.
3-point goals – H: 5 (Joe Helgerson 1,Ty. Crandall 1, Stockwell 2, Thorson 1); B: 9 (Johnson 1, Piske 3, J. Reader 1, L. Reader 4). Team fouls – H: 12; B: 21. Fouled out – none.