NON-CONFERENCE MATCHUP … Addi Snyder (above) had seven points as Edon held on to defeat Hilltop, 39-36.
PHOTOS BY REBEKAH DELL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
WILLIAMS COUNTY RIVALS … Hilltop’s Nayah Rodriguez scores inside in a non-conference game at Edon on January 31.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
EDON (January 31, 2026) – For the first nine minutes, it appeared as if Edon was going to run invading Hilltop right out of the Don Walton Gymnasium in their non-conference girls basketball contest.
The Bombers (14-5) had the upper hand early on leading by as many as 18 points in the first half but eventually withstood a second-half comeback effort by the Cadets (5-15) to escape with a 39-36 victory.
Edon had previously defeated Hilltop, 43-29, on January 9, in a Buckeye Border Conference matchup, but this time around, the outcome was much closer.
Coming off a thrilling 54-52 BBC victory over previously unbeaten in conference Fayette two days earlier to stay alive in the title chase, the Bombers got off to a blazing first quarter start.
After Hilltop’s Molly Dickinson had scored on a baseline drive tying the game at 2-2 two minutes into the contest, Edon capitalized on its impressive field goal percentage, jumping out to a quick 14-2 cushion while hitting 7 of 8 shots for a blistering 87 percent in the quarter.
Following a rebound bucket by Hilltop’s Sophia Crossgrove at the 2:07 mark of the quarter, stopping Edon’s scoring run, Edon’s Adison Briner then hit two buckets for an 18-4 advantage after eight minutes of action.
An inside bucket by Nevaeh Smith and a rebound basket by Briner opened the second quarter for Edon whose lead had swelled to a 22-4 advantage with seven minutes remaining in the first half.
Hilltop then scored seven straight points. An off-glass jumper by Nayah Rodriguez followed by a bucket and free throw by Crossgrove and Dickinson added a layup to close the gap to 22-11 before Smith nailed a 15-foot jumper for Edon, who led 24-11 at halftime.
The Bombers maintained their double-digit lead in the third quarter despite hitting just 3 of 12 shots for 25 percent and leading 30-17 going into the final eight minutes.
With Edon on the verge of perhaps putting the finishing touches on a potential double-digit triumph, Hilltop definitely had a comeback answer for Edon.
After trailing by double digits since the 3:12 mark of the first quarter, Dickinson ignited a 5-0 scoring run to begin the fourth quarter hitting one of two free throws and then forced an Edon turnover for a layup.
Kenley Routt also forced another Edon miscue, resulting in another easy bucket for the Lady Cadets who now trailed by eight points, 30-22, with 6:57 remaining.
Dickinson, who had already tallied five points in the quarter, drained a trifecta and two free throws and with 2:42 remaining, the Cadets had battled their way back now trailing by three points, 36-33.
“These girls they don’t know quit, and we talked about that after the first quarter,” said Hilltop head coach Troy Grime.
“They played their tails off the last three quarters. “If we had another minute maybe we could have made it. I’m so proud of them because there are no such things as moral victories. We just played one of the better teams in our district to almost a tie.”
Genna Ripke then hit one of two free throws for a 37-33 Edon lead before Crossgrove connected on an inside jumper at the 2:12 mark pulling Hilltop to within two points, 37-35.
“Credit to Hilltop, they did a really good job with their extended 3-2 defensive scheme,” said Edon head coach Brien Moore.
“They did a good job of forcing us to make a decision with the basketball. At the end of the day, we have to do a better job of executing. I think we’re in a good spot where we continue to improve and continue to get better at it.”
Smith then answered with a baseline drive for a 39-35 lead with 1:42 left. Crossgrove made one of two free throws at the 1:31 mark to pull within three points, 39-36.
Edon would go to its four-corner offense over the final minute to escape with the close win.
“That’s where I think our experience showed tonight just valuing the basketball there in the last few minutes a little bit more than what we did earlier in the game.” said Moore. Credit to the girls, they found a way to win a game in January.”
Smith and Briner led Edon with 12 and 11 points, respectively. The Bombers were 16 of 37 for 43 percent from the floor, and 6 of 12 for 50 percent from the stripe. They outrebounded Hilltop, 31-24, but committed more turnovers, 18-9.
Dickinson led Hilltop with 15 points and Crossgrove added 10 points. The Cadets were 12 of 48 for 25 percent from the field and 10 of 27 for 58 percent from the line.
HILLTOP (36) – Dickinson 15; Crossgrove 10; N. Rodriguez 2; L. Rodriguez 1; Routt 5; Connolly 3; Totals 10-2-10 – 36
EDON (39) – Bartlett 0; Schwartz; Ge. Ripke 5; Briner 11; Snyder 7; Smith 12; Aldrich 2; Gr. Ripke 2; Totals: 15-1-6 – 39
HHS 4 7 6 19 – 36
EHS 18 6 6 9 – 39
