Hamilton – It would seem that every year, every school sports season, there are at least two Colonial Valley Conference teams meeting shortly before the Mercer County tournament that should turn around and face each other again at the MCT in a few days.
This season, the distinction belongs to the women’s basketball teams Allentown and Hamilton High West.
A’Town defeated Hamilton, 58-31, on Monday in the regular season, in the Valley Division game, at The Hornets’ Nest.
The two will unfold and play again at 5pm on Wednesday in Allentown in the first round of the Mercer County Tournament.
The tournament setup included 16 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks by junior Redbards forward Caitlin Landgraf, who averaged 5 feet and 11 points.
So, although it may not have been a surprise, 12 points for four 3-point goals from the field, killed by 5-6 guard-attacker sophomore Alexei Cruz, opened his eyes.
“I have very severe asthma, and one winter I had to grit my wisdom teeth, so I missed the game,” said Cruz, who published the high season.
Her smooth strike posed another challenge for the Hornets defense, which was already hampered by an attempt to keep Kyle McCree of Atauna and Brianna Schwitzer, who had nine points, and Anna Bella Conti, who came off the bench with Cruz, to kill family
“Today our team has found a good rhythm,” Cruz said. “Over the last few weeks, we have found impetus. We are all very happy about the approach of the Mercer County Tournament. “
The same was true with Hamilton West players, although the first half did not go as they had hoped.
After falling behind 14-6 in the first eight minutes, the Hernets saw the Redbards increase their lead to 32-12 at the break.
“We always start slow,” said Hamilton’s 5-7 senior striker Martina Fedor. “Playing with them today will make it easier for us on Wednesday, but we need to play better in defense. They are bigger than us, so we have to be more aggressive. “
West did it better in the second half yesterday, including keeping lead-up Allen scorer Molly McCree without points.
When Fedor scored 14 points and three three-pointers, and her only classmate Sierra Aceveda added eight points, the hosts were able to prevent the game from getting too out of control in preparation for the next meeting at the MCT. in two days.
ALENTOWN (58)
Schweizer 3-0-9, Pellegrina 0-0-0, KMcCrea 3-3-9, Landgraf 7-2-16, Eckhardt 0-0-0, AConti 3-0-7, CConti 0-0-0, Cruz 4-0-12, Sebar 1-0-2, Townsend 0-0-0, MMkKry 0-0-0, Patten 0-0-0, Alkhovsky 1-1-3.
In total – 22-6-58.
Hamilton West (31)
CAcevedo 4-0-8, Fedor 4-3-14, AAcevedo 2-0-4, Toucet 0-0-0, Holloway 1-0-3, SRodriguez 0-0-0, Nixon 1-0-2, Conte 0-0-0.
In total – 12-3-31.
Allentown (12-7) 14 18 11 15 – 58
Hamilton West (6-13) 6 6 6 13 – 31
3-point goals – Schweizer 3, AKonti, Cruz 4 (A), Fedor 3, Holloway (HV).
