Hillsboro moves to district semifinals; wins against Vinton County

HILLSBORO — The Hillsboro Indians defended their home court one final time this season and did so all while winning a Division IV SE District Quarterfinal game on Thursday night. 

The No. 8 seeded Indians defeated the No. 9 seeded Vinton County Vikings 72-43, as they overcame an eight-point first frame to eventually win by 29 points to move on to the district finals on Monday. 

HHS in the first frame had two players score four points each, as Tre Captain and Jack Howland made two baskets apiece.

The Indians trailed by two points to start the second at 10-8, but the second frame was much better for the hosts, as the Indians outscored the Vikings 18-8 to lead 26-18. 

Hillsboro tied the score early in the second with a steal and layup by Captain for the 10-10 score. That began an 9-0 run by the Indians, as Howland scored the next seven points with a trip to the free-throw line where he made both attempts, followed by a three-point play. The sophomore then scored two points on a basket for a 17-10 lead with 6:10 left in the second, forcing the Vikings to call a timeout. 

After the timeout, the Vikings scored five consecutive points, getting back to within two points of tying the score, but a 3-pointer from Howland at the 4:15 mark put HHS ahead by five points at 20-17 with 4:03 left in the second. 

HHS eventually held a 26-18 lead at halftime for an eight-point advantage. 

In the second half, the Indians outscored VCHS 46-25, with a 24-13 third frame and 22-12 fourth quarter. 

In the third, the Indians made six 3-pointers, as Mason Dumpert made a 3-pointer in the quarter, and Tate Davis made three in the frame, plus he added a two-point field goal. Howland made two 3-pointers in the third, and with two points each in the frame were Brayden Hunter and Dylan Dixon, as the Indians led 50-21 after the quarter came to a close. 

HHS in the fourth quarter scored 22 points off  five points by Howland, four points by Davis, four points scored by Brady Juillerat, four points from Captain, two points from Hunter, two points by Dixon and Daniel Moreda with a point. 

The Indians were led in scoring by Howland with 25 points, finishing with five two-pointers, four 3-pointers, and he went 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. 

Davis followed with 17 points, as he sank three two-point baskets, three 3-pointers, and he was 2-of-2 in his free throw attempts. 

Captain totaled 10 points off four two-point baskets, and he also was 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. 

The rest of the Indians’ scoring included:  Dixon (6), Juillerat (6), Dumpert (5), Hunter (4) and Moreda (1). 

Hillsboro’s team totals included 20 two-pointers, eight 3-pointers, and they were 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. 

Vinton County had four players score points for them on Thursday, and they were led by Cobra Sharp with 21 points, and he was followed by Josh Montgomery with 10 points, Nash Yates with eight points and Peyton Ousley with four points. 

Team totals for the Vikings were eight two-point baskets, five 3-pointers, and they were 14-of-16 from the free-throw line. 

Next for the Indians is a district semifinal game on Monday, Feb. 24 vs. No. 1 seeded Meigs at 6 p.m. at Southeastern High School. 

BOX SCORE
VCHS    10 08 13 12 — 43
HHS    08 18 24 22 — 72

HILLSBORO (72) — M.Dumpert 1 (1) 0-0 5, T.Davis 3 (3) 2-2 17, B.Hunter 2 (0) 0-0 4, D.Dixon 3 (0) 0-2 6, T.Captain 4 (0) 2-2 10, J.Howland 5 (4) 3-3 25, D.Moreda 0 (0) 1-2 1, B.Juillerat 2 (0) 0-0 4. TOTALS: 20 (8) 8-11 72. 

VINTON COUNTY (43) — N.Yates 1 (2) 0-0 8, C.Sharp 4 (1) 10-14 21, J.Montgomery 1 (2) 2-2 10, L.Dimel 2 (0) 0-0 4. TOTALS: 8 (5) 12-16 43.