Hoops season ends in CJ 4 quarterfinals
by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
This one will hurt for a while.
The Hillsborough High boys’ basketball team was seconds away from upsetting top-seeded West Windsor Plainsboro South in the Central Jersey Group 4 quarterfinals. The Raiders led by five points with less than 10 seconds remaining in regulation but the Pirates rallied and forced overtime.
South needed a 3-point shot at the buzzer to send the game to overtime and another big jumper with less than two seconds remaining in the extra frame to pull out a 58-56 victory. Poor free throw shooting late in the fourth quarter opened the door for the Pirates, who led at the intermission but had their hands full with the Raiders in the second half.
HHS junior Frank Mitchell led all scorers with 31 points but made only 1-of-2 free throws before South hit the big three to force overtime. The game continued to go back-and-forth but the home team prevailed on another clutch shot by big man Austin Witter.
Hillsborough (14-12) was seeking the school’s first sectional title in basketball and seemed well on its way to the CJ 4 semifinals. The Raiders opened the tournament with a thrilling 49-47 victory over Hunterdon Central the night before. They had to weather a potential game-winning three at the buzzer but weren’t as fortunate against the Pirates.

