Hillsborough and Franklin battle in the Central Jersey Group 4 semifinals at Hillsborough on March 5, 2025. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Last year, the Hillsborough girls’ basketball team won its first state sectional title in school history, beating Elizabeth to win North 2, Group 4.
One more win, and they’re going to go back-to-back.
Senior Cesci Schiro scored a game-high 29 points – including 15 from the free throw line – as the top-seeded Raiders beat fifth-seed Franklin, 68-55, Wednesday night in Hillsborough in the Central Jersey Group 4 semifinals. The teams had split their two regular season meetings, ‘Boro winning by three, the Warriors later winning by four.
But this Hillsborough team has gotten even better since the start of the season, and they were already pretty good to begin with. They beat Rutgers Prep in the Somerset County Tournament semis to make their first county final since 2006.
Now, they’re in the sectional finals for a second straight year, albeit in a different section.
Hillsborough had trouble hitting from beyond they arc, but they made up for it getting in the paint, drawing fouls, and hitting free throws. They were 29-of-38 from the stripe.
Hillsborough (23-6) will take on second-seed Monroe (20-9) Saturday at 1:30 pm in the final, after the Falcons topped third-seed Hightstown, 53-30.
(Note: The Central Jersey Group 4 final had been announced at Hillsborough High School as a noon start, but the game was moved to 1:30 pm to accommodate SAT testing.)
Franklin’s season ends at 11-16.
Click below for postgame reaction from Hillsborough senior Cesci Schiro and head coach Courtney Tierney, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:
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