Hillsborough High School has won five straight girls’ basketball games. The last four victories have been particularly impressive.
A roundup of those four games is below.
Whitey Dukiet Classic First Round (Livingston High School)
Hillsborough 51, Cranford High School 43
Hillsborough improved to 2-2 with this victory, 51-43, over Cranford on Dec. 27. Elissa Nsenkyire and Morgan Hodorowski led the Raiders with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
Olivia Gaspar added nine points. Peyton Quackenbush drilled two three pointers.
The Raiders advanced to the Whitey Dukiet Classic championship on Dec. 29 at Livingston.
Whitey Dukiet Classic Championship
Hillsborough 54, Livingston 22
Hillsborough took it to the host team, 54-22, in the title game of the Whitey Dukiet Classic on Dec. 29. The Raiders improved to 3-2 and handed Livingston its first loss of the season.
Coach Ian Progin’s team played lockdown defense, holding every Livingston player to five points or less.
Hillsborough also executed a balanced offensive attack. Allison Watson (11 points) and Grace O’Connor (10) scored in double figures. Hodorowski, Gaspar, Lisa Ross and Jill Stanton contributed eight, six, six and five points, respectively. Nsenkyire, Michelle Fratianni and Gabriella Vangeli also scored.
Progin’s squad played a complete game in taking home the holiday tournament championship.
Hillsborough 49, West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North 41
The Raiders did not lose their momentum over the holiday break, returning on Jan. 3 to beat West Windsor-Plainsboro North, 49-41, at home. Hillsborough increased its winning streak to four and its winning record to 4-2.
Progin’s team won the first three quarters, taking a 10 point edge, 39-29, into the fourth quarter. In the fourth, Hillsborough held off a comeback attempt led by West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s two prolific scorers, Jordan Brown (22 points) and Nadia Elhossieni (13).
Nine Hillsborough players scored in another balanced effort. Gaspar, O’Connor, Quackenbush and Stanton led the Raiders with eight tallies each. Quackenbush again nailed two threes.
Hillsborough 59, North Hunterdon Regional High School 44
Hillsborough dominated the second half and ran away from North Hunterdon Regional High School, 59-44, on Jan. 5 at home. The Raiders won their fifth straight game and improved to 5-2.
Hillsborough and North Hunterdon were tied at halftime, 22-22. But Hillsborough won the third quarter, 19-8, and the second half, 37-22.
Nsenkyire (20 points) and Hodorowski (15) sparked the Raiders during their run, and in the game in general, combining for 35 points. Stanton and Watson added eight and six points, respectively. Ross, Vangeli, O’Connor and Jayna Moore also scored.
Progin’s team is developing a consistent winning formula: tight defense, balanced offense, team basketball.
***
At 5-2, Hillsborough has quickly turned around its season. Progin’s club looks strong across the roster and on both ends of the floor.
The Raiders attempted to extend their winning streak on Jan. 8 at home against Watchung Hills Regional High School.
