The Hillsborough girls’ basketball team celebrates its first-ever state sectional title, with a 59-46 win over Elizabeth in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 final on March 1, 2024. (Submitted photo)
There were two key factors that helped the Hillsborough girls’ basketball team claim its first-ever state sectional title.
First, it was defense. Specifically, the second-seeded Raiders got steal after steal against 5th-seed Elizabeth, right from the get-go. Those led to either transition buckets, or a set-up in the half-court offense.
Second, was their excellent night shooting from downtown. While makes, misses, and percentages aren’t often tracked at the high school level, Hillsborough did make a lot of them, seven to be exact.
Both helped Hillsborough (21-8) win the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 title Friday night, their first-ever, 59-46 over visiting Elizabeth (19-10).
Those led to a big blitz by ‘Boro, en route to a 22-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. And in the end, the Raiders never trailed in the game.
Hillsborough did more of the same the entire rest of the game, leading 37-17 at halftime, and 55-35 at the end of three.
Francesca Schiro led the Raiders with 24 points.
The Raiders next will play the North 1, Group 4 winner, either 5-seed Union City or 2-seed Morristown; that game is a 7:00 pm tip Friday night in Morristown. That semifinal will be at 7 pm next Tuesday at Bloomfield High School.
Click below for postgame reaction with Hillsborough’s Francesca Schiro and head coach Courtney Tierney, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen!
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