Hilemans get one more game
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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
Williamsburg coach Amy Hileman will coach her daughter Ayla one more time in Thursday's 17th annual Altoona Mirror Classic at Penn State Altoona.
It's the latest way Ayla's career has mirrored her mother's.
"It's pretty special," Ayla Hileman said. "A lot throughout my career we have shared and had the same experiences. We played in a lot of big games against the same opponents and scored 1,000 points and now this."
But if Ayla wants to finish her high school career the same as her mom, she'll have to have a big game Thursday.
Amy Hileman was Blair County's leading scorer in the 1993 Big John Riley Classic, the predecessor of the Mirror Classic, and she led her team to a 77-63 win over Cambria County.
"It seems like she's following in my footsteps," Amy Hileman said. "I think we won. I was the high scorer, and Mark Moschella was our coach. It was fun getting to play with everybody and with everyone becoming your teammates instead of your opponents. I had a lot of fun, and I hope these girls have fun too."
The Blair County girls face a bigger challenge than the Blair team did in 1993 as the Mirror's version of the game has expanded Cambria County's team to that of the entire Central PA allowing for stars like Cloe Price (Bedford County's Everett), Mariah Hall (Bedford County's Northern Bedford), Regan Lauer (Somerset County's Berlin Brothersvalley), Mariah Andrews (Somerset County's Windber) and Maddie Hopsicker (Huntingdon County's Juniata Valley) to be included with their Cambria County teammates.
Ayla Hileman and Altoona's Jaiden Krull are the only Blair County girls who averaged more than 10 points per game this season, but that doesn't mean Blair won't be playing to win.
"We always want to try and win," Amy Hileman said. "You never go into a game with that not being the goal. We want to use it as an opportunity. It's an honor to get selected and play with some of the top players in the area."
The Blair girls do have a height advantage.
"I think it's going to come down to defense in the end and controlling the boards," Amy Hileman said. "We're a little forward-heavy, and we'll look forward to using team defense and playing team basketball to get our points on the board."
Central PA coach John Hahn also mentioned his team's lack of size.
"I'm excited," Hahn said. "To me, this is a big honor. I have been coaching for 24 years. I have probably watched the last 15 of these, and to be chosen to coach is a great honor. I wish I would have gotten a little height when we chose these teams, but it's quite an honor. The girls are going to have fun."
Ten of the 12 Central PA players averaged more than 10 points per game.
Ayla Hileman, who will play college basketball at Frostburg State, said her team will be up for the challenge.
"Our defense should be good," Ayla Hileman said. "We have some pretty athletic girls, and our rebounding is good. I'll try and put up some points and be a playmaker as well."
One of those defenders will be Bishop Guilfoyle's Sarah Geishauser, who will play in the game after missing the entire regular season (other than a ceremonial layup on senior night) due to an ACL injury. Geishauser was cleared the Wednesday before the state final and played four minutes as the Lady Marauders won the state title over Mountain View, 35-17.
"When the letter first came out, I wasn't sure, but they gave me clearance," Geishauser said. "It feels really great. I have gone to this the last two years, and it was really fun to watch. I was hoping I would get a chance to play in it, and then with the injury I wasn't sure, but I'm excited to play."
With Geishauser, Ayla Hileman, Williamsburg's Laney Prough, Berlin's Lauer and soon-to-be Class 1A Bishop McCort's Gianna Gallucci playing in the game, some of the best small schools in the state in girls basketball will be represented.
"I drop to 1A next year, which I really didn't want to do," Hahn said. "BG, Berlin and Williamsburg and hopefully us, one of us is going to win. One of us, probably two of us, will make a deep run. For the longest time, 2A was always the toughest bracket, but there is so much girls talent in the area in 1A and 2A that it's unbelievable."
The girls game will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and the boys game will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 and available at the door beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.
"I'm excited to be the coach of the last game (Ayla and Prough) ever play in high school basketball," Amy Hileman said. "It's really neat to get to end it that way."