By PAUL GOTHAM
HILTON, N.Y. — One night after scoring a season-high, the Greece Athena boys’ basketball team was held 10 points below its season average.
The means changed, but the outcome didn’t.
Tournament MVP Khorie Reaves led four in double figures, and the Trojans took the 2023 Hilton Hall of Fame Tournament Championship with a 69-56 victory over the host Cadets.
“That’s what Hilton makes you do,” Athena head coach Mike Setzer said of the low-scoring affair. “They’re really good in transition on defense, getting back.”
Reaves handed out one of his game-high seven assists and followed with a layup to snap a 9-0 Hilton run midway through the third quarter. The senior guard’s 3-pointer early in the fourth made it a double-digit game at 49-38. Athena did not allow the Cadets within seven points for the remainder of the contest.
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“We pride ourselves on defending,” said Hilton head coach Troy Prince. “It’s hard to hold that team in check, but I thought we made them earn it.
“The pace at which they speed you up. It’s just that every third or fourth possession gets loose on you. You come away with nothing and then it’s instantaneously a full-court pass for a layup or dunk.”
Reaves scored 14 of his game-high 20 points in the first half to stake the Trojans to a 34-24 lead heading into the locker room. Leading by four, the 6-foot-4 guard connected from behind the 3-point arc then nailed a pull-up jumper to pace an 8-2 run to close the second quarter.
But the Trojans could not shake Hilton (5-2) after the break.
Ben Sneddon scored a pair of baskets. Johnny Bianchi finished in traffic, and Brady Gerig hit a trey to make it a 38-33 game.
“One of the reasons why we get in this tournament and we also schedule a game against Hilton is because they are such a good team, and they are very-well coached,” Setzer said. “Coach Prince does an awesome job with these guys. They run amazing stuff, and they play great defense.
“We put up a huge number yesterday and they did a good job on us. Hilton is a tough team to beat every year. It doesn’t matter if they are up or down, they are always tough to beat.”
I’zayah Reaves connects on his second triple in the early going. @GAHSBoysHoops 14-10. pic.twitter.com/f7OOJ9vPFQ
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 29, 2023
I’zayah Reaves hit three triples in the game and led a long-range attack that saw Athena find the range from distance nine times in the win.
“Their on-the-ball pressure has really become a weapon for them,” Prince said of Athena. “They’re committed to it for the whole shot clock. They’re going to be a problem for everybody the whole year.
“But the area where they have really improved on is they can shoot it. It’s a big difference from last year.”
I’zayah Reaves had 13 points in the win.
Khorie Reaves leads Connor Osier on the baseline pick-and-roll to start the third quarter scoring. pic.twitter.com/SJYUi3cbsf
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 29, 2023
Despite playing with foul trouble, Connor Osier finished with 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting. Zee Johnson added 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
The win was the seventh by double digits for Athena (8-0) which hasn’t played on its home court since a season-opening win over Pittsford Sutherland on December 1st.
“They keep responding,” Setzer said of his team. “We’ve played at Franklin, at Monroe and now these two games. They are amazing.”
Ne’Sean Fowlks (6) and I’zick Reaves (5) also scored for Athena.
The Trojans beat East Aurora, 113-61 on Wednesday in the opening round of the tournament.
Andrew Lenhard finds Jack Smith cutting baseline for the and-one, but @HiltonCadets trails 17-13. pic.twitter.com/VfgfCqIUoX
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) December 29, 2023
Bianchi topped the Hilton offensive output with 16 points. Gerig and Sneddon added 12 apiece. Andrew Lenhard (7), Jack Smith (6) and Shawn Cavey (3) also scored for the Cadets.
And our all-tournament selections from the championship game: Johnny Bianchi and Ben Sneddon from Hilton, and I’zayah Reaves, Zee Johnson and MVP Khorie Reaves from Greece Athena. 🏀🍎🎄 pic.twitter.com/ffQwXVnDkL
— Hilton Athletics (@HiltonCadets) December 29, 2023
I’zayah Reaves and Johnson joined Khorie Reaves on the All-Tournament team. Bianchi and Sneddon earned all-tourney honors for Hilton.
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