Hillsboro held visiting Cashton scoreless for nearly 10 minutes in last Thursday’s Scenic Bluffs Conference (SBC) boys’ basketball game and used a 23–point second quarter to bury the Cardinals 46–26.
The Tigers improved to 6–1 overall and 3–1 in SBC play.
Hillsboro outscored the Eagles (2–5, 0–4) 6–0 in the opening quarter then turned it suffocating defensive start into an explosive 23-point second quarter.
The Tigers led 29–5 at halftime while holding Cashton to just two made baskets in the first half.
For the game the Eagles shot just 17.1 percent (6 of 35), including just 1 of 8 from 3-point land.
Hillsboro struggled to score in the third quarter, getting outscored 11–4, but the Tigers closed the game on a 13–10 fourth-quarter run to put the game away.
The Tigers' troubles at the free throw line continued as they made just 2 of 9 for the game.
Conversely, Cashton made 11 of 21 from the charity stripe.
Sophomore Max Stockwell scored a team-high 13 points and had three rebounds, two steals and two assists to lead the Tigers before fouling out.
Senior Brandon Stanek added eight points and a team-high eight boards, while sophomore Joey Helgerson added seven points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Hillsboro returns to action Friday afternoon against Osseo–Fairchild (3–5) at 4:30 p.m. in the first game of the Onalaska Luther Christmas Tournament.
The Tigers will then face either Luther or Fennimore on Saturday.
Hillsboro will resume conference play on Jan. 10 at Brookwood (2–4, 2–2).