Miami Trace's strong start too much for Indians

HILLSBORO — The Miami Trace Panthers had a strong start against the Hillsboro Indians, as MTHS was down one starter due to illness, but they still showed why they are at the top of the Frontier Athletic Conference, winning 59-38 at Hillsboro High School. 

Miami Trace — who have won 17 consecutive FAC games dating back to the 2023-24 season — led by as many as 10 points in the first quarter and ended the opening frame with an 18-10 lead over the Indians. 

“This game worried us a lot. It is always tough to come to Hillsboro and play, and Jack Howland is as good as there is in the Southeast District,” MTHS head coach Ben Ackley said. “(Jack) hit one shot, I think it was closer to Lynchburg than it was anywhere else. I couldn’t even get mad at our kids. 

“I thought we brought good energy, but we still have a lot of things to clean up. We had a starter out tonight sick (Luke Armstrong), so we were missing a senior. We started three sophomores, and brought two other sophomores off the bench, so we played five sophomores tonight over 30 of the 32 minutes, which is exciting because it gives those kids a chance and lets them go. 

“I thought Adam (Guthrie) and Julian (Baker) did a good job of controlling the glass and limiting (Hillsboro) to one shot. We made some shots early and got enough stops, and it was nice to get everyone a lot of minutes tonight, and hopefully we’ll be rested and stay away from this flu bug as we go to Jackson on Friday.”  

The Panthers scored the first four points of the first quarter with baskets by Gage Bowers and Baron Phipps, but Hillsboro junior Jack Howland struck back with a 3-pointer for a 4-3 score at the 6:25 mark of the frame. 

MTHS built a nine-point lead following baskets by Adam Guthrie, Julian Baker and Bowers for a 12-3 lead. That quick burst of scoring was stopped by HHS senior Mason Dumpert with a layup at the 2:35 mark of the first, only to see MTHS score seven of the next 12 points put on the board with Guthrie and Baker combining for those points. HHS in that span had a 3-pointer by Dumpert and a jumper at the buzzer by Howland for the 18-10 Hillsboro deficit. 

HHS suffered a five-point second quarter with all five points from Howland as he made three free throws on four attempts and a two-point bucket. Miami Trace in the second started with a 9-0 run with Bowers scoring six consecutive points off three baskets, followed by a bucket from Phipps and a free throw by Guthrie for a 17-point Panther lead at 27-10. 

HHS scored their first point of the second frame with 3:18 on the clock off a free throw from Howland. MTHS finished the first half with a 5-2 run for a 32-15 halftime lead. 

MTHS scored the final point of the second quarter, then scored eight straight points to start the third with baskets by Bowers, Phipps and Baker. Hillsboro’s Easton Inman broke up that run of scoring by Miami Trace, but MT added eight more points in the quarter, while HHS from the 2:26 mark of the frame until the buzzer had a 3-pointer from Howland and a jumper by Brady Julllerat. 

Miami Trace ended the third with a 48-22 lead, an advantage of 26 points. 

HHS scored 16 points in the fourth, while Miami Trace finished the win with 11 points in the fourth frame. For the Indians, Howland scored nine points in the fourth, while teammate Juillerat made a 3-pointer, and having two points each in the quarter were Dumpert and Inman.

“It was a tough matchup, and they (MTHS) had several players out, and I think our boys came out a little lethargic because of that, but hats off to them (MTHS). They answered the bell with a few players out, and I thought they played hard. Coach (Ackley) had a good game plan with zone action, and we didn’t look to attack the zone, so that’s something we’ve got to get better at,” HHS head coach Josh Howland said. “The more pressing issue is we’ve got to battle through some adversity. I thought we were over that hump, but we kind of maybe showed we have more to work through. 

“I told the boys I am 100-percent confident we’ll come back in and get over that hump.”

HHS was led by Howland with 22 points, finishing the four-quarter game with four two-pointers, three 3-pointers and he was 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, while also having six rebounds and five steals. 

Dumpert was next with seven points, two rebounds and three assists. Juillerat followed with five points (four rebounds, two assists, two steals), and Inman scored four points (two rebounds, one assist, one steal). Zack Brown totaled three rebounds, JaHari Pitts had one rebound, Dawson Barnett totaled two rebounds and two assists, and Jeven Hochstuhl had one rebound, one assist and one steal.

The Indians totaled nine two-point baskets, five 3-pointers and they went 5-of-7 from the free-throw line (71-percent). HHS also totaled 21 rebounds (eight offensive), nine assists and 10 steals.

Miami Trace was led by Bowers with 18 points, Guthrie with 15 points and Baker had 10 points. Also for the Panthers, Phipps totaled nine points, Carter Davidson scored four points and Matticks Hernandez scored three points. 

The Panthers had team totals that included 26 two-point buckets, one 3-pointer (Hernandez), and they were 4-of-9 from the free-throw line. MTHS also totaled 36 rebounds (11 offensive). 

Miami Trace improves to 6-0 in the FAC and 12-2 overall. Hillsboro is now 1-5 in the FAC and 4-11 overall. 

Next for the Indians is a road FAC game on Friday, Jan. 23 at Chillicothe High School against the Chillicothe Cavaliers (4-2, 9-3). 

MTHS plays next on Friday, Jan. 23 at Jackson against the Ironmen (4-2, 11-2). 

BOX SCORE
MTHS        18 14 16 11 — 59
HHS           10 05 07 16 — 38

MIAMI TRACE (59) — B.Phipps 4 (0) 1-2 9, C.Davidson 2 (0) 0-0 4, G.Bowers 9 (0) 0-0 18, J.Baker 5 (0) 0-3 10, A.Guthrie 6 (0) 3-4 15, M.Hernandez 0 (1) 0-0 3. TOTALS: 26 (1) 4-9 59. 

HILLSBORO (38) — B.Juillerat 1 (1) 0-0 5, M.Dumpert 2 (1) 0-0 7, J.Howland 4 (3) 5-6 22, E.Inman 2 (0) 0-1 4. TOTALS: 9 (5) 5-7 38.