The Greece Athena Trojans, ranked 11th in Class AA in New York state, built a 21-point halftime lead and defeated the host Cadets at the annual Hilton Holiday Hall of Fame basketball tournament.
Hilton had trouble getting their offense untracked and were held without a field goal over the first five minutes of the contest before senior Tyler Farrell hit a three-pointer. Classmate Rickey Cocilova scored on a drive later in the quarter as they trailed 17-6.
The second quarter mirrored the first as Mike Ross and Mikhail Werner accounted for the only non-free throws over the eight minutes as the Trojans led 36-15.
Farrell scored eight of his team-high 13 points in the third quarter while Ricky Lipani scored two baskets, but Athena extended the lead to 29 after three quarters.
The Cadets were again held to just two field goals in the fourth quarter—on back-to-back possessions by Ross and a Werner put-back.
In addition to his 13 points, Farrell added five rebounds for the Cadets. Ross and Lipani had six points each, Werner five and Jack Anten added four.
The Cadets defeated East Aurora from Section VI 72-44 in the consolation game behind a double-double from Farrell, who finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Athena defeated Greece Arcadia 70-53 to win the tournament championship as MVP Deion Hamilton finished with 38 points over the two games.
