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Jamie Horne, a two-time all district player and the Burros’ leading scorer and rebounded this year, will be a key to Hillsboro’s success next year on the basketball court.

Hillsboro finished the 2007-2008 campaign with 14 wins and nine losses. The Burros finished fourth in regular season and again in the District 3 tournament.

Coach Elliot Rotvold’s cagers were knocked out of the Region 2 tournament by 2008 Class B champion Grafton.

The Grafton Spoilers defeated Lisbon, Watford City and Turtle Lake-Mercer at the FargoDome to win the coveted state title.

The Burros, meanwhile, fought through a season of injuries.

Missing six of their top eight players at one time, the Burros finished with a respectable season, claiming the fourth seed in the region.

“We had a good season,” acknowledged Rotvold.

“I thought we played particularly well in the middle of the season.’

In 24 days in January the Burros won seven of eight games, beating Finley-Sharon -Hope-Page, Central Valley twice, Park Christian, MayPort-CG, Northern Cass and Fordville-Lankin.

Rotvold will lose three seniors to graduation.

Jake Olsen was a leader for the Burros, said his coach. “Jake especially showed some grit at the end of the year playing with a broken hand.”

Brian Smeldon, said Rotvold, was the Burros’ defensive stopper. And Billy Otto, Hillsboro’s coach said, played when the team’s starters were sidelined.

Rotvold likes the nucleus he has returning. In addition to Horne, the Burros have Aaron Meyer, Zach Grothmann and reserve Bill Breen returning.

Horne has to step into the leader’s role, Rotvold indicated.

Much is expected, too, from Zach Grothmann, a sophomore, who had a breakout season this year. “He has a tremendous upside and will be counted on next year,” Rotvold said.

Josh Mayo, injured much of the year, is another player the Burros will be counting on next year.

Jake Walters and a group of sophomores next year will get a serious look, according to Rotvold.

“We’ll be lacking size again, so we need to get better in the off-season.”

That means we need to be shooting baskets in the summer months, Elliot Rotvold explained.

“We showed great improvement this year, and will need to make even more improvements for next year.”

The Burros coach expects his team will be one of the favorites next year in District 3. The pre-season pick, he anticipates, will be Thompson. Rotvold gives Park River the nod in Region 2.

Jamie Horne finished the year with a 14.5 scoring average. He averaged seven rebounds a game. He was also the team’s second best in assists and steals.

The Burros averaged 52.6 points a game this year. The opposition was held to 50.5 points.

Hillsboro shot 44 percent from the field and 61 percent from the free throw line. They were 34 percent from 3-pt. range.

Aaron Meyer scored 10.4 ppg and Zach Grothmann had a 10.3 ppg average.

Olsen was the team’s assist leader with 90. Grothmann had 45 steals to lead the Burros.