Sports News

A year after winning the Region 2 title and the state championship 11 days later, Hillsboro was denied a return trip to the state classic when the Burros were defeated in the first round of this year’s regional volleyball tournament.
Eclipsed from the spotlight by Cavalier Monday at Grafton, the defending Class B volleyball champion’s run at fame ended unceremoniously Monday afternoon in a 3-1 loss to the Tornadoes.
Hillsboro’s season ended at 22-14.
After placing second to MayPort-CG in the District 3 tournament last year, the Ashley Haines-led Burros steam-rolled through the region and state to win the 2006 title trophy.
It was Hillsboro’s second state title in six years. The Burros were state champions in 2000. All-state Kinsey Coles led the charge seven years ago. Hillsboro’s Ashley Haines was all-state last year.
Teams from the eastern regions have won the last 11 state championships. Thompson has four titles, MPCG three, Hillsboro two, Langdon and Central Cass one each.
The Thompson Tommies, winners of the 2004 and 2005 state championships, played Park River-Fordville-Lankin last night for the Region 2 crown.
Hillsboro, regular season winners in District 3 and seeded first in the opening postseason tourney, qualified for the Region 2 tournament by winning two games in the district played at the Hillsboro Events Center. The Burros defeated Larimore, lost to Central Valley and beat Griggs County Central.
District 3 teams didn’t fare well at the Region 2 tournament in Grafton. Only Thompson escaped the opening round. Hillsboro, Central Valley and MPCG all lost Monday.
The Burros, who won their opening game against Cavalier, 25-20, lost the next three — 25-16, 25-11 and 25-19. The Tornadoes’ season ended Tuesday at 25-12. Thompson took its 28-12 record into the title match last night. Park River-Fordville-Lankin, the top seed out of District 4, went into the final match with a region-best 34-6 record.