by TYLER HATHAWAY
FAIRPORT, N.Y– When Hilton and Fairport first met about a month ago, the hosting Cadets played well for most of the game. However, a second quarter riddled with struggles to score the basketball was the difference in what ended up as a three-point loss.
“I think we lost the second quarter 16 or 17 to three,” said Hilton head coach Dave Heise. “And then we outplayed them the other three, we won the other three by like 13.”
So when the two teams met again Friday night, this time in Fairport, the goal for Heise’s squad was to play a complete game.
“We knew if we didn’t have one of those quarters tonight, we were going to be in really good shape,” said Heise.
The Cadets (13-4) ended up not having another dud quarter. In fact, they flipped the script from the first game- using a 17-5 third quarter advantage to overcome a one-point halftime deficit and win 57-43.
“It’s a game of runs,” Heise explained. “If you can have one or two really big runs, you’re usually in a good position. That run in the third quarter put us in a good one.”
Trailing 25-24 after a first half that saw Fairport sink six three-pointers, the Cadets came out in the second half on fire. Hilton hit three three-pointers of their own in the first five minutes of the second half to fuel a 14-0 run.
“Defensively, we scouted all week,” said Cadets forward Maddie Murphy of the run. “We just locked down on defense, especially during that third quarter. We knew that if we locked in on defense, it would transfer to our offense.”
“We really anchored into our team defense,” Heise said. “We normally like to press, but tonight, to settle us in, I said we’re just gonna go half court, man to man, really jam things up. They (Fairport) had some kids get to the rim on us the first time we played them. We started taking away the paint, and every girl did a great job on that.”
“And then (in the third quarter) we really just played possession to possession. I just told them honor and integrity on every possession, play defense hard and then let’s get out and run a little bit if we can, and we were able to get some easy baskets.”
Hilton finished the night with 10 made three-pointers just a few days after sinking 13 against Webster Schroeder. Six of those makes came in the second half.
“We were more confident in our shot and handling the ball,” said Murphy. “We moved the ball better in the third quarter, and in the fourth quarter, and I think that helped us win.”
“Everything starts with a paint touch,” Heise explained about how they generate open looks. “So whether it’s off the dribble, or you’ll see Maddie Murphy get into the paint, then we hit a kickout, or we can have someone flash open. It’s something that we work a lot on. Everybody is spot up, everybody is shot ready. And when it’s your turn, let it rip.”
The Cadets currently sit as the No. 3 seed in the Class AA1 standings with just three games to go until sectional play starts.
“This win is huge for getting ready for sectionals, and it just gives us a confidence boost,” Murphy said.
“I’ve been around sports a long time, and you can only talk so much about process with a kid before they want to have the product too, the outcome to build off of,” said Heise. “I try not to give them (his players) too much coach speak, but I think they needed a hard-fought win on the road to really propel us for the next three or four weeks.”
Murphy led all scorers with 18 points. Jayleigh Esposito buried four three-pointers to finish with a dozen points. Ava Heise and Taylor Anne each added nine points. Amiyah Miles scored seven points, while Amelia Sloan had two points.
For Fairport (12-5) Samara Rizzo tallied 12 points. Avery Lucy ended with nine points. Autumn Fitch supplied eight points. Charly Sisson (4), Leah Meabon (4), Clara Shannon (3) and Eva Monoski (3) also scored for the Red Raiders.
“Our toughness and balance,” Heise said he was most impressed by in the win. “You know, we can preach toughness until we’re blue in the face, but they gotta go do it. Belief isn’t talk, its action, and you’re seeing girls come together, work, perform, and play for each other.”
Hilton will host Churchville-Chili on Tuesday. Fairport also next plays Tuesday, and will be back at home to face Rush-Henrietta.
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