Longhorn boys advance at Hillsboro; girls fall in opening round

The Longhorns split in round one of the Trojan Classic in Hillsboro. The Lady Longhorns fall to the number one seed Clay Center 39-26. and the Holcomb boys win big over Eureka 55-26.

Holcomb came out slow and did not have a field goal in the first quarter and were down to the Tigers 19-2 after the first quarter. The defense stepped up in the final three minutes of the second quarter and held Clay Center scoreless while the Longhorns went on a 5-0 run off a couple of baskets including a three pointer by Freshman McKee Blackburn which were her first varsity points. The Longhorns were down 26-7 at halftime. Holcomb would come out strong in the second half and outscore Clay Center 19-13 in the second half but would still fall to the Tigers 39-26. Holcomb shot 24% and had 30 rebounds and 19 turnovers while Clay Center shot 41% and had just 20 rebounds and 16 turnovers. The Tigers were led by Clara Edwards with 16 points and 3 rebounds and Erin Hammel with10 points. The Longhorns were led by Nicole Ruda with 6 points and 13 rebounds and Blair Holiday with 5 points and 3 rebounds. The Longhorns fall to 1-8 on the season, next up is round two of the Trojan classic on Thursday at 3:00 against Remington who fell to Riley county 52-35.

The Holcomb boys win big over Eureka 55-26. The Longhorns jumped out to a 14-5 lead at the end of the first quarter behind 5 points from Kobe Hands. But the Tornadoes would not go away and they climbed back into the game and were down by just 3 at halftime 21-18. The Longhorns came out ready to play in the fourth quarter and outscored Eureka 24-4 and were up 45-22 at the end of the third quarter. Holcomb cruised to a victory in the fourth quarter and won 55-26. Holcomb 45% and had 32 rebounds and 15 turnovers. Jackson Stoppel, Zion Mason and Damon Kepley who all had 0 points in the first half combined for 27 points in the second half. Eureka shot 31% and had 16 rebounds and 14 turnovers. The Tornadoes were led by Hayden Mead with 6 points all on free throws. Holcomb was led by Zephyn Mason with 10 points and 4 rebounds and Jackson Stoppel with 12 points. The Longhorns put an end to their two game losing streak and move to 5-4 on the season. Next up is round two of the Trojan Classic on Thursday against the winner of the Hesston/Republic County game.