Hamilton’s girls basketball team continued to tear through opponents in advance of one more big regular-season encounter with New York Mills in the last week of the regular season.
The Emerald Knights bashed Remsen 71-19 last Monday night, getting 27 points in the first quarter alone and continuing to add to that margin as all seven players that got on the scoreboard earned multiple baskets.
Jordan Peterson, with 22 points, outscored the Rams by herself as Katherine Keever got a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds. Katie Weeks had 11 assists to go with her eight points as Kendall Rusch stepped up for nine points.
Hayleigh Hanson matched Weeks’ eight points and Kelby Watkins contributed seven points.
Much the same thing happened in Thursday’s 61-19 destruction of Madison, a game where the Emerald Knights tore through a 0-2 first quarter and led 53-11 before resting all the starters in the fourth quarter.
Peterson had 16 points, while Sara Whyatt got 10 points. Lauren Weeks had nine points (all from three 3-pointers) as Hanson and Keever both earned eight points and Katie Weeks picked up six points.
Then came Friday’s 69-16 romp over Otselic Valley, which included a 20-0 third-quarter shutout. Peterson got 18 points, one of four players in double figures as Katie Weeks got 15 points, Whyatt 12 points and Lauren Weeks 11 points. Hanson contributed seven points.
Elsewhere in the Center State Conference, Canastota’s girls team staged a major surprise on Saturday, beating 12-3 Waterville in a 52-45 decision.
To tame the Indians, who were no. 9 in the last state Class C rankings, the Raiders played a strong first half, moving ahead early and holding Waterville to six points in the second quarter as the lead grew to 26-17.
Canastota then held on behind Shea Foster, who accounted for half of Canastota’s offense as she poured in 26 points, including a trio of 3-pointers. Alexis Havens offered ample support, earning 14 points.
On the boys side, Hamilton, trying to push its way into the post-season, knocked off rival Morrisville-Eaton 61-44 last Friday night, using strong runs at the start of each half to account for its margin and holding Warriors star Will Thomas to nine points.
Cameron Fisher ruled for the Emerald Knights, posting 23 points. Lucas Rhyde added 13 points as Allen Schult got eight points. As Thomas struggled, Dakota Miller and Matt Roher each finished with 10 points to lead M-E’s push.
Earlier in the week, Hamilton beat Owen D. Young 65-49 as Fisher had his best varsity performance to date.
Before he was done, Fisher had notched 31 points, sinking eight 3-pointers for most of that total. Lucas Rhyde worked inside for 14 points as John Andrzejek added eight points.
But the Emerald Knights took a big hit one night later when Canastota, mired at 4-10, rose up and beat them by a score of 63-46.
Employing a zone defense, the Raiders contained Hamilton enough to move to a 31-26 halftime lead. Still, it remained close until the fourth quarter, when Ron Vaccaro’s pair of 3-pointers helped Canastota get a cushion.
Richard Mitchell had seven of his 15 points at the free-throw line, adding 10 rebounds. Jeff Merrell led with 16 points as James Mason and Brad Olden both finished with 11 points and Vaccaro got eight points. Fisher could not maintain his torrid pace of the night before, only getting 13 points as Rhyde added 11 points. Andrzejek (seven points) and Tom
Hilgenberg (six points) offered support.
Canastota saw Greg Zupan return to the lineup on Friday, but it still lost to Waterville 54-51 despite Merrell landing 17 points. Mason got eight points as Zupan, in his limited minutes, managed six points.
Morrisville-Eaton nearly stunned Oriskany on Wednesday night, but took a 60-59 defeat as it could not hold on to a 52-44 lead it held at the end of the third quarter. Thomas still had 32 points, with Shane Carroll adding 12 points.
