Hilton Lady Cadets upset #1 seed Canandaigua

On Saturday, February 22, the Hilton Lady Cadets (12-9) traveled to Victor High School for a rematch of last year's Class A Semifinal game against #1 seed Canandaigua (18-3). Everything was pretty much the same as the year before. Canandaigua #1 and apparently rolling to another final and Hilton entering the game as the #5 seed. This year's match up, however, would have a significantly different outcome.

Relying on solid defense led by Junior Jesse Doran and a deep scoring attack, the very young Hilton Lady Cadets jumped to a 25-21 half-time lead. The third quarter, however, proved to be the difference. Junior Danielle Marble (9 points) and Junior Kassie Best (7 points) hit back to back 3-pointers to give the Cadets a 31-21 lead and they never looked back. Junior Val Mikels (9 points) and Sophomore Emile Welch were handed the task of defending 6'2" Canandaigua center Kelli Poles (19 points). Between the two girls, they did an admirable job keeping her off the boards while denying her post entry passes. Making her work extra hard for the points she did score, brought Poles to the point of exhaustion on more than one occasion and Canandaigua Coach John Johnson was forced to get her out of the game for some much needed rest. Meanwhile, the Lady Cadets just kept scoring. Solid contributions from Junior Captain Marisa Clark, 18 points, 10 assists and Junior Captain Amy Pratt, 13 points, 8 rebounds, kept Hilton in front throughout the second half, leading to a 61-50 victory.

"I knew we had a chance to beat this team and all I could do was to tell the girls that they were good enough to win this game. They played very, very well as a team and I am very, very proud of them," said Hilton Coach Mike Mayer. Mayer will be taking a Hilton Girls team to the finals for the first time since 1995 when they were beaten by Edison Tech. (Mayer did not coach that year). This was Mayer's fourth appearance in a Section V final.