Buzzer-beater in overtime stuns top-ranked Averill Park
TROY — In a captivating tussle that went back and forth throughout, Section V champion Hilton used a 3-pointer at the buzzer in overtime by Elena Graziano to stun topranked Averill Park 73-71 in the Class AA girls’ basketball state semifinals at Hudson Valley Community College.
Averill Park (25-1), making a third straight trip to the state semifinals, last captured a state title in 2022 with its second Class A crown. The program won both the Class A and Federation titles in 2010. The program bumped up to Class AA in the state’s new six classification system this season.
The contest featured 16 lead changes and 11 ties.
Hilton (22-4) tied the game at 63 with 15.3 seconds left on a drive and score by standout guard Mallory Heise (27 points). Averill Park tried to end it, but a rebound shot attempt by Tatiana Tune that went in was ruled to be too late.
In overtime, each team scored three baskets until Graziano’s fourth 3-pointer after halftime decided the contest. Heise drove into the paint and kicked the ball to the corner and Graziano buried it to the delight of the Cadets and stunned silence from Averill Park and its fans.
The loss marked the end of the careers for Tune and Taylor Holohan, who led all scorers with 33 points.
Hilton showed immediately it was ready for the challenge as guard Heise scored from all over the floor. She pumped in 13 points during the opening eight minutes as the Cadets led 18-17.
In the second quarter, Averill Park began to attack in the paint. The Section II power scored on drives, stellar passes into the post or on rebounds. Holohan did the bulk of the damage as the senior forward scored 10 points in the stanza to help Averill Park establish a 35-33 halftime advantage. Heise did not score during the second quarter.
There were six lead changes and seven ties in the opening 16 minutes.
The Cadets came out firing in the third quarter and when Heise drained a 3-pointer with 5:47 left, the Section V champions owned a 42-35 cushion. Hilton took a second seven-point lead at 46-39, but Averill Park answered back as Holohan converted a three-point play and made a steal and score to tie it at 46.
After drawing even, the next four possessions for Averill Park resulted in three turnovers and a miss. In that span, the Cadets used two 3-pointers from the corner by Graziano to open up a 53-46 lead.
Things swung back in favor of Averill Park as it utilized a 14-2 surge – capped by consecutive 3pointers by Holohan and Arianna Verardi – to grab a 60-55 advantage.
Kayleigh Ahern ended a four minute plus stretch without a basket by draining a 17-footer with 40 seconds remaining to put Averill Park ahead 62-61. Holohan added a foul shot before Heise’s bucket forced four extra minutes of play.