A simple proposition faced Hamilton girls basketball junior guard Katie Weeks in the closing moments of regulation during Sunday’s Section III Class D final against Sackets Harbor at Utica Memorial Auditorium. With the Emerald Knights trailing the Patriots 41-38, Weeks attempted a 3-point shot to tie it with 9.8 seconds left – and was fouled. So if Weeks could somehow make all of those foul shot attempts, Hamilton would pull even. Three times, Weeks dribbled, then fired. Three times, the ball swished through the net without even touching the rim. Not long after that, the Emerald Knights were celebrating a 48-45 victory over Sackets and its second consecutive sectional championship. This was a tribute as much to Hamilton’s resilience as anything else, for it trailed most of the game. Sackets, who had knocked off undefeated top seed Copenhagen to reach the finals (and had beaten Hamilton for the title in 2009), had control throughout the first three periods, mainly because it limited turnovers and hit on seven 3-pointers. With less than seven minutes left, the Emerald Knights trailed 37-28, but Hamilton started using its size and strength to control the boards – and didn’t allow any more 3-pointers the rest of the way. Meanwhile, senior Jordan Peterson used her superb all-around talents to bring the Emerald Knights back. From timely baskets to blocks, rebounds and steals on the defensive side, Peterson did it all as Hamilton cut the margin to two. Still, Sackets built the lead back to 41-36, but the Emerald Knights still wouldn’t quit. Peterson hit a quick basket with 19.5 seconds left, and then the Patriots’ Ashley Butcher missed the front end of a one-and-one with 14.3 seconds to play. This set up the wild ending, as Weeks, who had 15 points on the game, came through with her big free throws, then watched as Ashley Butcher, with a 3-point attempt to win it from the corner, saw the shot roll off the rim. It was going to overtime. Peterson, who would finish with 24 points, sank four straight free throws in the OT period to put Hamilton in front 47-43. Sackets cut the margin to two, but with 7.8 seconds to play in the extra period Peterson made one more free throws. Down by three, the Patriots got an open 3-point look to force a second OT, but it fell short. Hamilton now advances to Saturday’s Class D regional final against Section IV champion South Kortright, to be played at Oneonta State College. The winner advances to the March 18-20 state final four at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.