Hillsdale Academy at Pittsford – – Girls Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – December 13, 2024 – – by Chuck Krafft

Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen is off to Pittsford to cover the Wildcats’ home basketball game against the Colts from Hillsdale Academy. Pittsford enters the game with a 3-0 record. Hillsdale Academy is at 1-1.

I’ve always loved Pittsford ever since I covered their first Girls Basketball State Title in 2016.

https://thebleacherdenizen.blogspot.com/2016/03/mt-pleasant-sacred-heart-vs-pittsford.html

The people from Pittsford were very generous with their emails about the game, so, of course, when they made it to the state final game in 2017, I had to cover that, too!!

https://thebleacherdenizen.blogspot.com/2017/03/michigan-lutheran-seminary-vs-pittsford.html

Chris Hodos coached both those teams. Because of the response from these articles, I’ve come to Pittsford once or twice a year most years. (It’s a bit of a drive from Lansing – – about 80 minutes if roads are dry.)

I believe that in this particular game, Coach Hodos showed his true love for his players when he saved them from a vicious marauding animal during the first quarter of this game!!
https://thebleacherdenizen.blogspot.com/2019/01/morenci-at-pittsford-girls-basketball.html

I was able to stop at one of my favorite stores, the Jerome Country Market on the way. (If you ever have a chance to try their smoked salmon, you really owe it to yourself to try some.) It was my lucky day as they had the salmon for sale. (It’s really good and frequently they sell out of it.) I also picked up a couple excellent things from their meat counter. It’s a great store with a lot of merchandise you can’t necessarily find elsewhere!

Coach Hodos gave me this information about his Wildcat players. Ava Mallar was an all-State guard last season and is a strong and athletic player who is good at all phases of the game. She is great driving to the basket; she also has excellent ball handling and passing skills. She is a threat from the three point line as well. She is a solid rebounder and a fierce defender in the Wildcat press.

Riley McCumber is a long, lean guard who is a fine three point shooter. She also gets a lot of fast break layups out of her position at the top of the Wildcat press where she is a formidable defender. Laura LeMar plays in the post where she is a fine defender and rebounder who can score inside. Gabby Adams is a tough perimeter defender. Alexis Bryner is an excellent rebounder.

Hillsdale Academy Coach Jennifer Clark provided me with the following information about her Colt players.

Darby Horsfall is a strong three point shooter who understands the offensive well and runs the point for the Colts. Ella Walton is a fine perimeter defender who is a solid mid-range and three point shooter. Lucy Cote is a tough perimeter player with an accurate three point shot. Liz Creger and Kate Maxwell are provide strong post defense and rebounding to the starting lineup.

Madison Sallows is a quick perimeter defender with an accurate three point shot. Caroline Roberts is a fine senior leader who defends well on the perimeter. Anne Gray is a fine post defender, rebounder and scorer. Annie O’Connor provides rugged interior defense and solid rebounding. Zoe Plemmons will miss her sophomore season with an injury. She would probably have been a starter and a big contributor to the Colt offense if she could play. Coach Clark praised her for being a positive force providing encouragement to her teammates at all times!

I was able to see all of the JV game. Hillsdale Academy got out to a 10-8 first quarter lead and used a 10-5 second quarter advantage to take a 20-13 halftime lead. Hillsdale Academy outscored Pittsford 7-6 in the third quarter and entered the fourth quarter with a 27-19 lead.

After Abigail Kriesch hit a layup for Hillsdale academy early in the fourth quarter to take a 29-19 lead, Pittsford scored the next eight points in a row and pulled within two points at 29-27 when Karmin Butler drove and hit a layup with 2:00 left in the game. Carmen Gramlich hit a jump shot to give Hillsdale Academy a 31-27 lead.

Hillsdale Academy was able to get the ball back and held the ball for about 40 seconds when they turned over the ball with just 22 seconds remaining. Maribelle Jennings stole the ball for Academy a few seconds later and the Colts dribbled out the clock. Hillsdale Academy won the JV game by the score of 31-27.

Karmin Butler let the Pittsford JV scoring with 12 points. Brielle Clark supported her with 7 points and Madison Pickford tossed in 4 points. Carmen Gramlich and Ivy Fry each tallied 2 points.

Olivia McArthur led the Hillsdale Academy scoring with 8 points. Eliza Roberts and Ann Bissot each chipped in with 5 points. Maribelle Jennings and Abigail Kriesch each added 4 points. Julie King had 3 points and Verona Young scored 2 points.

It is now time to look at the varsity game from the perspective of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in the ancient times when he was considered to be “young.” He was never able to understand why his coach became upset when the Bleacher Denizen passed the ball to people wearing a different shirt color. While the Bleacher Denizen thought he was just being inclusive, his coach snarled about this thing called “turnovers”. Alas, the Bleacher Denizen’s playing time was severely cut. Sometimes life just isn’t fair – – –

Pittsford wins the opening tap, but is quickly called for an over and back violation. Academy misses a twelve foot shot from the side. Gabby Adams is fouled on a jump shot from the free throw elbow. She hits one of her two free throws to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead with 7:07 to play in the first quarter.

Alexis Bryner gets the offensive rebound for Pittsford. Lucy Cote steals the ball for the Colts. Academy misses an eight foot banked shot from the side of the lane. Ava Mallar drives through the lane and hits a layup for Pittsford. Academy misses a layup. Liz Creger gets the offensive rebound for the Colts. Academy misses a layup. The Colts get another offensive rebound and miss a three point shot from the top of the key.

Pittsford misses a layup. Alexis Bryner knocks a Colt pass out of bounds; Academy retains possession. Academy is fouled on a driving scooped shot, but misses two free throws. Pittsford bounces a pass out of bounds. Liz Creger passes to Lucy Cote, who is fouled on an eight foot banked runner from the side. Lucy Cote hits two free throws to trim the Wildcat lead to 3-2 with 4:46 remaining in the opening quarter.

Pittsford is whistled for an over and back violation. Ava Mallar steals the ball and is fouled on a driving layup. She hits one of her two free throws for Pittsford. Riley McCumber deflects an Academy pass; the ball goes out of bounds and Pittsford takes possession. Pittsford misses a layup. Riley McCumber hits a putback to give Pittsford a 6-2 lead.

Academy loses a pass out of bounds. Pittsford is whistled for a traveling violation. Pittsford’s press causes Academy to lose the ball out of bounds. Pittsford misses a driving reverse layup. Academy misses a twelve foot shot from the wing. Lucy Cote hits a putback to make the score Pittsford 6 Lucy Cote 4.

Lucy Cote steals the ball for the Colts. Academy misses a fast break layup, but Pittsford travels with the rebound and the Colts get another opportunity. Ella Walton inbounds the ball to a Colt teammate who is fouled on a layup, but misses both her free throws. The rebound goes out of bounds and Academy gets the ball back. Caroline Roberts inbounds the ball to Anne Gray, who hits a layup for Hillsdale Academy to tie the game at 6-6.

Pittsford misses a jump shot. Laura LeMar hits a putback for Pittsford to retake the lead. Pittsford steals the ball, but travels. Alexis Bryner steals the ball for the Wildcats. Madison Sallows steals the ball for the Colts. Academy misses a layup. Kate Maxwell grabs the offensive rebound for the Colts. The Colts miss a layup. Lucy Cote steals the ball and hits a fast break left-handed layup to tie the score at 8-8.

Pittsford misses a sixteen foot shot from the wing. Alexis Bryner gets the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Pittsford misses a layup. Academy misses a short jump shot. Pittsford does not have enough time to shoot the ball before the buzzer blares.

After one quarter, this game is tied at 8-8.

Pittsford has the ball to open the second quarter. Ava Mallar drives and hits a short hook shot for the Wildcats to give her team the lead. Laura LeMar knocks the ball out of bounds; the Colts retain possession. Academy misses an eight foot shot off the dribble from the baseline; the rebound goes out of bounds and the Colts get another opportunity. Ella Walton inbounds the ball to Liz Creger, who hits a layup for the Colts to tie the game at 10-10.

Alexis Bryner passes to a teammate, who is fouled on a layup, but misses two free throws. The rebound goes out of bounds and Pittsford gets the ball back. Pittsford misses a twelve footer on the baseline. Savannah Watkins steals the ball for the Wildcats. Pittsford misses a twelve foot shot in the lane. Alexis Bryner is fouled on a putback and hits one of her two free throws to give Pittsford an 11-10 lead with 6:37 remaining in the second quarter.

Kate Maxwell reacts alertly and quickly to dash to the backcourt to save the Colt’s possession. Ella Walton passes to Madison Sallows, who hits a long two foot shot from the wing to give Academy a 12-11 lead. (I thought the ball was a three pointer from the stands, but I know the refs are much closer to the play, so I’m sure it was just a two. Besides, neither coach complained – – -)

Pittsford loses the ball out of bounds. Riley McCumber steals the ball for the Wildcats and is fouled on a layup. She hits one of her two free throws to tie the game at 12-12 with 5:28 to play in the quarter.

The Colts misfire on a triple try from the side. Pittsford misses a driving reverse layup. Ava Mallar grabs the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Pittsford tosses a pass out of bounds. Riley McCumber taps the ball away from Academy, but the Colts are able to recover briefly, but the Pittsford press produces a turnover when Academy does not get the ball over midcourt in ten seconds.

Lucy Cote steals the ball for the Colts and passes to Madison Sallows, who hits a fast break layup to give Academy a two point lead. Riley McCumber passes to Mayci Revers, who hits a layup for Pittsford to tie the game. Ava Mallar steals the ball and hits a fast break layup to give the Wildcats a 16-14 lead.

Riley McCumber nearly steals the ball for Pittsford, but Academy recovers. The Colts miss a threeball from the wing. Lucy Cote pulls down the long offensive rebound for the Colts. Ava Mallar taps the ball out of bounds, but Academy retains possession. Riley McCumber blocks an Academy jump shot from the side and Ava Mallar takes the ball coast to coast for a fast break layup. She is fouled on the play and hits her free throw to give the Wildcats a 19-14 lead with 2:07 to play in the first half.

Anna Newell steals the ball for the Wildcats. Pittsford loses a pass out of bounds. Riley McCumber knocks the ball away from Academy, but the Colts recover. Academy misfires on a threeball from the wing. Pittsford misfires on a threeball from the side. Kate Maxwell passes to Anne Gray, who banks in a six for shot from the side to trim the Wildcat lead to 19-16.

A Pittsford ballhandler loses the ball out of bounds on a drive into the lane. Academy misses a three pointer from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Pittsford takes possession. Pittsford misses a fifteen foot shot from the baseline. Caroline Roberts passes to Kate Maxwell, who banks in a six foot shot to chop the Pittsford lead to one point at 19-18.

Darby Horsfall blocks a Pittsford shot. The second quarter buzzer makes its presence known before Hillsdale Academy can set up for a shot.

Pittsford takes a 19-18 lead into the locker room at halftime. If customary basketball procedures are followed, I will predict that Pittsford will also have a 19-18 lead at the start of the third quarter.

Lucy Cote leads the Hillsdale Academy scoring at halftime with 6 points.

Ava Mallar has 10 points for Pittsford.

I glanced at the scoreboard at the beginning of the third quarter and the score was still indeed Pittsford 19 Hillsdale Academy 18. It took a lot of will power, but I resisted the urge to pat myself on the back. (I’m 68 and only God knows how long it would take to recover should I pull my shoulder out of its socket with the back patting!)

Academy inbounds the ball to get quarter number three underway. The Colts miss a twelve foot shot in the lane. Ava Mallar passes to Gabby Adams, who throws in a threeball from the side for Pittsford. Riley McCumber knocks an Academy pass out of bounds; the Colts retain possession. Ava Mallar steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Pittsford. She is fouled on the play and hits her free throw to boost Pittsford to a 25-18 lead with 6:40 left in the third quarter.

Academy loses a pass out of bounds. Riley McCumber passes to Laura LeMar, who hits a layup for the Wildcats. Ava Mallar steals the ball for the Wildcats. Pittsford misfires on a triple try from the top of the key. Riley McCumber snares the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Pittsford loses the ball out of bounds. Lucy Cote passes to Darby Horsfall, who hits a three point shot near the top of the key to cut the Pittsford lead to 27-21.

Pittsford throws a pass over the lane and out of bounds. Academy throws a cross court pass out of bounds. Pittsford misses a twelve foot shot from the side. The rebound goes out of bounds and Academy takes possession. Riley McCumber steals the ball for the Wildcats. Pittsford misses a fast break layup; Riley McCumber hits a putback to give the Wildcats a 29-21 lead.

The Colts miss a threeball from the side and foul on the rebound. Liz Creger stands tall and tough in the lane to force a Pittsford traveling violation. Academy misses a three point shot from the top of the key. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Wildcats get the ball. Pittsford misses a driving layup. The rebound goes out of bounds and the Wildcats get another opportunity. Madison Sallows knocks the ball out of bounds; Pittsford retains possession. Ava Mallar drives through traffic and hits a tough layup for Pittsford as she is fouled. She hits her free throw to push her Wildcats to a 31-21 lead with 3:00 remaining in quarter number three.

Laura LeMar gets her hand on the ball and Ava Mallar picks it up for Pittsford. Anne Gray gets her hand on a pass and Pittsford loses the ball out of bounds. Riley McCumber steals the ball for the Wildcats and passes to Ava Mallar, who hits a layup. Ava Mallar knocks the ball away from Academy and Kaylee Lawson picks it up for Pittsford. Ava Mallar hits a fast break layup to give Pittsford a 35-21 lead.

Ava Mallar steals the ball for the Wildcats. Pittsford is assessed with a double dribble violation. Ava Mallar steals the ball for Pittsford and hits a fast break layup. She is fouled on the play, but misses her free throw. With 1:05 remaining in the third quarter, Pittsford holds a 37-21 lead.

Mayci Revers gets the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Pittsford misses a threeball from the wing. Laura LeMar gets her hand on the ball and the Colts lose the ball in the ensuing chaos. Pittsford watches as a fifteen foot shot from the side goes in and out as the buzzer blares.

After three quarters, Pittsford has a 37-21 lead.

Hillsdale Academy inbounds the ball to open the fourth quarter. The Colts lose a pass out of bounds. Pittsford misses a six foot hook shot from the side. Ava Mallar steals the ball for the Wildcats. Riley McCumber hits a layup for Pittsford. Academy misses a twelve foot shot in the lane. Gabby Adams passes to a Wildcat teammate who is fouled on a banked hook shot, but misses her free throws. With 6:44 left on the clock, the Pittsford lead is at 39-21.

Gabby Adams and Laura LeMar team up to force a Colt traveling violation. Pittsford misses a six foot banked shot from the side of the lane. Laura LeMar knocks the ball away from Academy and Riley McCumber picks it up for Pittsford.

Darby Horsfall gets her hand on the ball, but the Wildcats are able to recover. Pittsford misses a driving banked shot. Laura LeMar grabs the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. Pittsford misses a ten foot shot from the side of the lane. Academy is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. Kate Maxwell gets the offensive rebound for the Colts. She passes the ball to Darby Horsfall, who is fouled on a twelve foot shot from the side of the lane. She hits one of her two free throws to trim the Wildcat lead to 39-22 with 4:52 remaining in the game.

Pittsford misses a three point shot from the wing. Anna Newell ties up the offensive rebound for the Wildcats. The Possession Arrow loves her rebounding aggression and decrees that Pittsford shall have the ball. Pittsford misses a ten foot shot off the dribble from the side of the lane. Laura LeMar steals the ball for the Wildcats. Pittsford misses a fourteen foot shot from the side. Academy misses a fast break layup. Ella Walton pulls down the offensive rebound for the Colts. The Colts are fouled and miss a free throw. With 3:51 to go, Pittsford’s lead has a 39-22 lead.

Anne Gray knocks the ball away from the Wildcats and Kate Maxwell picks it up for the Colts. Academy misses a jump shot. Kate Maxwell gets the offensive rebound for the Colts. Gabby Adams gets her hand on the ball and a Colt dribbler loses the ball out of bounds. Darby Horsfall knocks the ball out of bounds; Pittsford retains possession. Alexis Bryner passes to Laura LeMar, who hits a layup for Pittsford. Darby Horsfall is fouled and hits two free throws for Academy to shave the Pittsford lead to 41-24 with 2:25 remaining.

Alexis Bryner passes to Laura LeMar, who hits a layup for Pittsford. Academy loses a pass out of bounds. Pittsford misses a layup. Ava Mallar steals the ball for the Wildcats. Ava Mallar is fouled on a driving layup and hits one of her two free throws to boost the Wildcats to a 44-24 lead with 43.4 seconds to go.

Riley McCumber knocks the ball out of bounds; the Colts retain possession. Academy misses a layup. Anne Gray snags the offensive rebound for the Colts. Academy misses a layup. Pittsford dribbles out the last couple seconds left on the clock.

Pittsford wins this game by the final score of 44-24.

Lucy Cote and Darby Horsfall each had 6 points to lead the Hillsdale Academy scoring. Madison Sallow and Anne Gray each scored 4 points. Liz Creger and Kate Maxwell each tallied 2 points.

Ava Mallar led Pittsford’s scoring with 22 points. Laura LeMar supported her teammate with 8 points and Riley McCumber contributed 7 points. Gabby Adams tossed in 4 points. Mayci Revers added 2 points and Alexis Bryner tallied 1 point.