Hilton managed only eight points in the fourth quarter, but senior Cameron Graupman hit a three-pointer from the top of the key with 1:10 remaining to put the Cadets ahead for good in a tight 61-59 girls’ basketball victory over visiting Irondequoit.
The Cadet led by as many as ten points and never trailed in the high scoring first quarter and took a 23-16 advantage after one. Irondequoit fought back to tie the game twice in the second quarter before a Meaghan McGwin put-back gave Hilton a 34-32 halftime lead.
Irondequoit grabbed a pair of one-point leads early in the third, but a pair of field goals from Graupman and a scoop shot and drive from Raine Gardner, in just her second game back from an injury, as part of a 8-0 run helped the Cadets regain the lead.
The Eagles again took a pair of one-point leads early in the final quarter, but sophomore forward Alyssa Juergens hit a jumper to make it 57-56 Cadets. Irondequoit fought back with another basket to again lead by one before Graupman hit her trey for a 60-58 lead.
An Eagle was fouled on a three-point attempt, but made only one of the three free throws to cut the Cadets lead to one, but Strauss hauled down a key defensive rebound with three seconds remaining and Graupman made a free throw with 1.8 seconds left to seal the win.
“They played and we didn’t and they took advantage,” a disappointed Hilton head coach Jeff Eichas said. “We only had four team rebounds with three minutes left in the first half, which showed our lack of effort. We scored, but we didn’t defend.”
Graupman, headed to the College of Saint Rose in Albany next fall, led the Cadets with 22 points. Strauss had 17 points with five rebounds, Chloe Graupman scored seven points, Juergens added six points with four rebounds and Gardner had four rebounds plus four of the team’s 12 steals.
