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Former Iowa-Grant coach Curt Hildreth was given the boys basketball coaching position at Hillsboro this season and he had no idea what to expect.
But, with some dedicated players and hard work things started to unfold in a very positive manner. The team improved week in and week out, took second to Bangor in the Scenic Bluffs conference, ran the table at the La Crosse Sectional and made it to the State Tournament as a representative in Division 5.
For the Tigers it was the first time in the history of Hillsboro boys basketball.
Hildreth started five juniors who took the Tigers to the championship game where they finished runners-up to Young Coggs Prep, losing 56-50.
The Tigers knocked off Green Bay New Lutheran 59-57 in the semi-final game when Hildreth decided to go "big."
He inserted 6'8" senior Avery Ruckman into the game and he came through with 11 points on five for five shooting from the field. Ruckman was perfect from the field the entire tournament, making all eight shots he took and also made his lone free throw.
Max Stockwell, a 6'4" junior, had 17 points in the GBNL game and 24 against YCP. He also grabbed 12 rebounds in the championship game.
Juniors Hunter Stanek and Joey Gilbertson got into double figures in the semi-final game with 12 and 10 points.
While the Tigers did not return to Hillsboro with the championship the community was still electric.
"I've been part of Hillsboro basketball since I was six years old," Stockwell said. "This team really needed this and I am proud to be a part of it."
"This is the greatest accomplishment in Hillsboro basketball history," said Hildreth. "Being part of this makes me nothing but proud."
"We went down fighting," Hildreth added. "We are leaving here with an identity we achieved here."
"I am thankful for the seniors," Hildreth added. "They contributed in so many ways that won't show up in the box score."
As for the juniors---"It is nice to have something to work for," Hildreth added. "But there are no guarantees. We have to stick to the process of getting here."
The Tigers finished their season 23-6.
One of Hildreth's assistant was former Iowa-Grant coach Curt Bisarek who is also Hillsboro's District Administrator.
Hildreth, a 2011 UW-Platteville grad, coached at Iowa-Grant as an assistant for eight years prior to going to Hillsboro. He was also the head golf coach at I-G.