Longhorns see split results in Trojan Classic opener

Courtesy of Benjamin Hutchinson
Hillsboro, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–The Holcomb Longhorns split with Clay Center in round one of the Hillsboro Trojan Classic on Tuesday. The Lady Longhorns won 41-36, while the boys fell 55-46.

Holcomb Girls 41, Clay Center 36
The Lady Longhorns started slow and were down 9-3 with 2:30 to go in the first quarter. Holcomb went on a 4-0 run to be down 9-7 going into the second quarter. It would be back and forth in the second quarter but a defensive rebound and layup at the buzzer by Jera Kruleski gave the Longhorns the lead at halftime 21-19. The third quarter was all defense by both teams and it was tied 26-26 at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Longhorns would be down by two points with six minutes to go in the game., but Holcomb would go on a 12-3 run to be up 38-31 with 3:00 left in the game. The Longhorns would close out the game led by Kalyn King with six points in the fourth quarter, and Holcomb made just enough free throws to win 41-36.

Clay Center shot 5-21 from three point, 6-22 from inside, and 9-16 from the free throw line. They had 25 rebounds, six of those were offensive boards. The Tigers had 18 turnovers.

Clay Center was led by Hailee Bent with seven points, Dani Carlson with seven points, and Maddie McCann with eight points.

Holcomb shot 2-10 from three point, 11-34 from inside, and 13-20 from the free throw line. They had 34 rebounds, 13 of those were offensive boards. The Longhorns had 16 turnovers.

Holcomb was led by Jera Kruleski with five points and five rebounds, Bella Galliart with eight points and six rebounds, Kalyn King with eight points, and Halle Jones with 13 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.

Next up for Holcomb is Hillsboro on Friday night at 6:00 in the semi-finals.

Clay Center Boys 55, Holcomb 46
Holcomb started slow but would only be down 12-10 at the end of the first quarter. Clay Center controlled the second quarter going on a 12-4 run, and the Longhorns’ lone field goal in the quarter came in the final seconds to make it a 14-24 halftime lead for the Tigers. Holcomb continued to struggle in the third quarter and Clay Center would have a 19-point lead 37-19 at the end of the third quarter. Coach Novack would go with two freshman, two sophomores and a junior in the fourth quarter. They would come out with an energy not seen by the Longhorns all night. Holcomb went on a 7-0 run to start the quarter to get it back within 12 points at 37-25. The Longhorns continued to fight and would get it within four points 48-44 with 2:00 minutes to go in the game. Brody Deniston had seven points in the final frame to help the Longhorns close the 19-point deficit, but the Longhorns could not close it out and missed shots and made free throws by Clay Center would allow them to close it out. The Tigers had 33 points off the bench and their best shooting night of the year. The Longhorns would lose 55-46.

Clay Center shot 6-8 from three point, 12-24 from inside, and 10-17 from the free throw line. They had 17 rebounds, two of those were offensive boards. The Tigers had 18 turnovers.

Clay Center was led by Weston Hammond with nine points, Jace Weller with 14 points, and Cole Pladson with 22 points.

Holcomb shot 6-23 from three point, 11-24 from inside, and 6-12 from the free throw line. They had 18 rebounds, 6 of those were offensive boards. The Longhorns had 14 turnovers.

Holcomb was led by Brody Deniston with seven points, Drayton Knoll with eight points, Kaden Hardy with 13 points, and Korbin Johnson 17 points.

Next up for Holcomb is Remington on Friday at 4:30 in the consolation semi-finals.