Given that it achieved 19-0 perfection in the regular season, nothing less than the same in the post-season would be acceptable to the Hamilton girls basketball team.
As the top seed in the Section III Class D playoffs, the Emerald Knights rested for a week and a half, practicing enough to stay sharp without a need to overdo it.
Thus, Hamilton was refreshed when it returned Tuesday night in the Class D quarterfinals against no. 9 seed Alexandria Bay, who had ousted New York Mills in last Friday’s opening round.
Giving the home fans one more reason to cheer, Hamilton steadily pulled away from the Purple Ghosts and won by a comfortable 54-31 margin to make it 20-0o.
Strong on both ends of the court, the Emerald Knights led 18-6 by the end of the first quarter. Alex Bay would slow things down for a while, but by the third quarter Hamilton was rolling again, outscoring the Purple Ghosts 16-7 to end any possible suspense.
Kylie Martin worked her way inside for 21 points to lead the way, while Katie Weeks stepped up for 11 points and Jess Brawn added 10 points. Jordan Peterson added six points. Alex Bay, in defeat, got 12 points from Selina Sochia.
This leads to the Class D semifinals Friday at Richfield Springs against no. 5 seed Oriskany, who ousted Madison 38-27 to get this far. The winner gets Sackets Harbor or Richfield in the Class D final March 7 at Utica Memorial Auditorium.