13 March, 2017
The Hopkinton Hillers Girls Basketball team captured the #2 seed in the Central Division 2 bracket. The Hillers started off their playoff run with a home game against TVL rival 7th seeded Medway on Friday March 3rd. Julia Canestari and Ivy Gogolin each struck for 15 points. Gogolin also pulled down 11 boards, Mikayla Pucci also added 13 points as the Hillers took down Medway for the 4th time this season 55-43.
Next stop for the Hillers was Worcester State university to take on the 6th seeded Marlboro Panthersin the sectional semi-finals. The Hillers defense shut Marlborough down early on and their great all around play prevented Marlborough from ever really being a threat. The Hillers led 19 to 4 after the 1st quarter and led 30 to 10 at the half. The Hillers kept control in the 2nd half outscoring Marlborough 16-11 in the 3rd quarter and 13-7 in the 4th. Julia Canestrari led the way offensively with 12 points, Mikayla Pucci dropped 11 and Ivy Gogolin struck for 10 in the 59 to 28 victory over the Marlbororugh Panthers. The Hillers advanced to the Central Division 2 Sectional Championship and will take on Medfield at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
On Saturday March 11th in the Central Division 2 Sectional Finals, The Hopkinton Hillers met up with TVL rival the Medfield Warriors at WPI. Both teams took one of the two meetings versus each other in the regular season. The Medfield Warriors took the first game at Hopkinton High School back on December 20th, 49-46, The Hopkinton Hillers took the 2nd meeting 64-33 on January 27th at Medfield High School.
In the third and most crucial meeting at WPI. The Hillers offense struggled in the 1st, Medfield led 11-6 after the quarter. In the 2nd, more struggles from the Hillers offense. Ivy Gogolin recorded all 6 of the Hillers points in the quarter. Lauren Casieri and Margaret McCarthy each knocked down a couple field goals for Medfield who outscored Hopkinton in the quarter 13-6 and led 24-12 at the half. In the 3rd quarter The Hillers offense came alive, Regan Keavany knocked down a pair of 3's and Ivy Gogolin struck for 2 more buckets as the Hillers outscored Medfield 15-13. The Hillers trailed 37-27 heading into the 4th quarter and despite outscoring Medfield in the final 8 minutes, the Hillers came up short. Medfield took the game 49-42. The Warriors will represent the Central in the D2 Final four state tournament.
Despite the tough loss, it was an amazing playoff run by 2nd year Head Coach Mike Greco and the Hopkinton Hillers Girls Basketball team, view highlights below.
