Reese: Offensive horror show
By: Rudy Brandl
The Hillsborough High girls’ basketball team ran out of steam in Friday night’s Central Jersey Group 4 semifinals.
Two nights after coming from behind for a dramatic 74-72 overtime victory against Rancocas Valley, the Lady Raiders were unable to sustain any offense or momentum against Howell. The visiting Lady Rebels eliminated Hillsborough from the state playoffs for the third consecutive year, this time in an ugly 36-33 contest.
Hillsborough (19-6) trailed for most of the game but never stopped fighting. After enjoying the lead for only 28 seconds of the first half, the HHS girls didn’t move ahead again until Ebony Jones scored on a power drive to the basket with 3:24 to play that made it 31-29.
The game was a constant struggle, particularly on offense. The team made only 11-of-45 field goals and committed 22 turnovers.
"It was an offensive horror show," HHS head coach Jim Reese said afterward. "It was a tale of two nights. It was just the opposite from the other night."
Consider that the Lady Raiders scored 29 points in the fourth quarter of Wednesday night’s quarterfinal victory and accumulated only 33 in a full 32-minute game Friday. Kelsey Kutch was the only HHS player in double figures and led all scorers with 13 points.
For complete coverage of all the HHS teams in the state playoffs, see Thursday’s Hillsborough Beacon.

