By: Malcolm Phillips
HILTON, NY — The Hilton Cadets high school boys' basketball team opened its 2024-2025 season as Hilton hosted the Pittsford Mendon Vikings. Cadets senior forward Jack Smith scored 27 points in a losing effort as Hilton fell 69-54.
"I think just going into our next game, we got to practice more with intensity and defensively, being up on each other," Smith said. "Practice more so we're used to the pace of the game, and just running the sets through and getting them down, really in practice."
To go along with Smith, junior guard Kallin Wheelan recorded eight points while senior guard Matthew Mandrycky tallied four points on the night for the Cadets. For Pittsford Mendon, senior guard Tyler Knapp led all scorers with 31, junior Josh Shadders finished with 16 points and guard Amari Coleman recorded 13 in the win with three of his four field goals coming from beyond the arc.
The Vikings started off the game fast and confident being led through Knapp as he had 11 to end the first quarter. The senior was joined by Shadders who had 5 points while Coleman knocked down a three. Mendon capitalized off of Hilton turnovers as after one, the Vikings led 21-10.
Entering the second quarter the Cadets played defense with physicality and aggression as they opened up the quarter with a full court press. The Cadets defense led to scoring opportunities as Smith led the way with eight points in the quarter while Whelehan knocked down two three pointers, including a buzzer beater to end the half. That swung the momentum, and the Cadets were able to outscore the Vikings 21-16 and cut the lead to six as they headed into the half, 37-31.
However, in the third quarter the Vikings did what experienced teams do against young inexperienced teams as the Cadets are. Anytime Hilton looked to build momentum the Vikings answered and did not allow a comeback to muster itself. Smith led all scoring in the quarter with eight points, but it wasn't enough as the quarter ended with a 52-44 Vikings lead.
“I think just closing out better on defenders,” Smith said. “Then making sure that we're all switching and helping the help around defense.”
Playing hard defense and getting offensive rebounds was the way for the Cadets to breakthrough in the game. However, even in the valiant effort, the savvy and experienced Vikings team wore the Cadets away as physicality picked up in the final two minutes and thirty seconds. The Cadets were outscored 17-10 in the fourth quarter and the Vikings pulled away for the victory.
“I think just effort wise,” Smith said. “It was good pushing the ball and having high energy the whole game, trying to keep it up with defense and then let the offense fall into place”
The Hilton Cadets start off the season 0-1 and will look to bounce back as they take on East High School from Class A at home. That game will be on Saturday, Dec. 7th, with tip off scheduled for 5:30pm.
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