By: Zach Harnischfeger
HILTON, N.Y. --- The defending 2023-2024 Section V Class AA champions and NYS runner-up Hilton Cadets girls basketball team remains undefeated as they took down the rival Spencerport Rangers on Monday. Cadets senior guard Mallory Heise recorded her second straight double-double to lead the Cadets to a 53-37 victory.
In the first quarter after scoring her eighth point of the game, senior and St. Bonaventure commit Mallory Heise became the Cadets' all-time leading scorer, surpassing Cameron Graupman who had 1,557 points. After one quarter, Hilton led 12-10.
"I'm really thankful for the Hilton community, my teammates and my coaches," Mallory Heise said. "The support they have given me is unreal, and I seriously couldn't do it without them."
After the slow start, the Cadets got things rolling in the second quarter. They used an 18-5 run to take a 30-18 lead over the Rangers heading into halftime. Heise scored 10 of her game-high 30 points in the second quarter, connecting on two 3-pointers. She also finished the night with 10 rebounds and two assists. Heise currently sits at 1,587 career points and counting.
Hilton senior guard Elena Graziano started the second half off with a bang by draining a 3-pointer. Hilton scored 13 points in the quarter to take a 43-30 lead. Both teams struggled in the fourth quarter as they scored a combined 17 points. The Cadets proved to be too much to overcome as they defeated the Rangers 53-37.
"I like where our defense is at," Hilton head coach Dave Heise said. "We held them to 37 points. I think we are only giving up 34-35 points a game right now. We didn't shoot the ball great but our defense sustains us in those moments. We're perimeter-oriented, but it opens things up for Mallory once we are spread out. We have a great opponent on Saturday in Starpoint who we beat in regionals last year. They're coming here to play us and we have some work to do to get ready for them."
For the Rangers, junior Jorja Gray led the team with 13 points. Senior Alena Zaher finished the night with seven points, all coming on free throws. Spencerport had 20 turnovers in the loss.
With the win, the Cadets improve to 5-0 on the season and are currently ranked No. 1 in NYS. They will host Starpoint Central on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 3:30 p.m.
"We're really grateful for that [being ranked No. 1]," Mallory Heise said. "We also know that we're not even playing our best basketball yet and there are a lot more achievements yet to come. It's just another step on the ladder and we can't get too high or too low."
With the loss the Rangers drop to 2-5 on the season and will host Victor Central next Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m.
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