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Hawks' perfect record lanced

By KEVIN LYNCH
Daily Record Staff Writer

BERLIN—Riding the wave of momentum from Saturday's overtime win over Div. III power Africentric, Hiland was unable to capture lightning in a bottle twice, as another D-III juggernaut, the Gilmour Academy Lancers, displayed some tough defense and clutch shooting to pull out a 60-49 in the finale of the Classic in the Country Challenge Monday at the Perry Reese Junior Community Center, capping off a three-day, 20-game basketball smorgasbord.

"We got exactly what we wanted this weekend," Hiland coach Dave Schlabach said. "The last time we sat in a locker room after a loss was Lake Ridge (in the regionals last year). It stinks."

Schlabach praised the play of Gilmour's guards, who defended Hiland well and had the presence of 6-foot-2 Naz Hillmon defending the post.

"They've got some great guards, and having Naz back there behind them doesn't hurt," Schlabach said.

The Lancers (11-4), coming off a tough overtime loss against the No. 1 team in Div. I (Mason) on Sunday, were able to learn from their experience, when they let a big lead slip away. Coach Bob Beutel was glad how his troops responded against the Hawks.

"I have a lot of respect for Dave and their program," Beutel said. "To come out of here with a 'W' is big, especially after yesterday. We learned a lesson, and that's what we try to do every game out."

The Hawks struggled from the perimeter, managing only 6 of 29 shots from beyond the arc. Angela Troyer canned two 3-pointers and led the Hiland attack with 21 points. No other player reached double figures for the 11-1 Hawks.

"The Classic is such a great atmosphere to play in. It gives you the feel of tournament time," Troyer said. "It gives us some competition outside the IVC, which we need."

Gilmour was paced by a quartet of double-figure scorers, Emily Kelley leading the way with 13 points (three 3-pointers) and 11 apiece from Sydney Diedrich (two 3s) and Hillmon, who also yanked down 16 rebounds.

Tiffany Weaver continued her coming out party for the Hawks, as the 6-1 sophomore post was a wall on defense, holding Hillmon to four first-half points, while scoring seven of her own, including a 3-pointer.

"She outplayed Naz for a half," Schlabach said. "We wanted her to spread Naz out and play the perimeter more."

After scoring the biggest win of the year on Saturday, the Hawks came out flat and could not match the intensity of the Lancers early on.

"I thought we looked tired. I thought they would be the ones who were tired after playing yesterday. This weekend is a grind," Schlabach said. "It's a true test of your fortitude."

Hiland managed only 3 of 15 shooting in the first quarter.

A trio of Lancers connected from downtown, as Annika Corcoran and Emily Kelley each connected on a pair of triples and Emma Gurley also hit a triple to give Gilmour a 15-7 lead after the opening eight minutes of action.

Kennedy Schlabach was held scoreless through much of the first half, but her 3-pointer late in the first half gave the Hawks their first lead of the game at 26-25, but Hillmon stuck back an errant triple try to give the Lancers a 27-26 lead at the half. Schlabach finished with nine points.

The Hawks could never build any momentum, as the Lancers answered every run the Hawks through at them, holding a 43-36 lead after three, and pulling away down the stretch, making 7 of 8 free throws in the fourth quarter.

"We felt there were some key players on the floor for them and we tried our best to take them away," Beutel said. "We wanted to make them work for their points, and I think we did that."

The Hawks will resume Inter-Valley Conference action this week.

"We saw some things where we have to get better," Schlabach said.