Hamilton Community Schools

December 10th 2025 Hamilton Community Schools picked up their first win of the season in dramatic fashion on Tuesday night, defeating a very competitive St. Thomas More squad from South Bend, 47–42. The Lady Marines displayed grit, toughness, and resilience—overcoming foul trouble that saw four different Hamilton players foul out—yet never letting adversity shake their determination. Fast Start Fueled by Rivera’s Hot Hand Junior Bella Rivera set the tone early, igniting the home crowd by drilling three three-pointers in the first half. Her perimeter shooting stretched the defense and gave Hamilton a crucial offensive spark. Rivera finished the night with 11 points, shooting 4/6 from the field and 3/4 from beyond the arc, while also adding 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Hamilton’s strong opening frame pushed them to a 17–6 lead after one quarter, and they maintained a 32–15 advantage going into halftime. Adversity Hits—But Hamilton Responds As the second half unfolded, foul trouble mounted quickly. Rotations tightened, younger players were forced into big minutes, and momentum began to tilt. St. Thomas More made their run, outscoring Hamilton 18–10 in the fourth quarter, but the Marines refused to fold. Despite the chaos, Hamilton made enough plays down the stretch—defensively, on the glass, and at the free-throw line—to secure the program’s first win of 2025–26. Hamilton Player Statistics Gianna Ceci – 12 points. A breakout performance from the freshman, who went 6/10 from the field, grabbed 5 rebounds, and added 2 steals and 2 deflections. Brenna Mercer – 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists. Tristen Creager – 10 points Creager was steady inside, finishing 4/5 from the floor and pulling down 9 rebounds. She also recorded 5 deflections and a block while playing heavy minutes before fouling out. TeigAnn Freed – 5 points including a big three pointer in the opening quarter Freed contributed with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Marissa Mercer – 4 points. Marissa added a pair of key baskets and pulled in 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 deflections, and 2 steals while logging a team-high in minutes, providing veteran leadership on a night where composure was crucial. Additional Contributors Lydia Hicks: had a +8 plus/minus with strong defensive effort! Heidi Richter: 4 rebounds Lilli Dager: Logged minutes in key stretches, providing stability late. Final Thoughts This win showcased exactly what Hamilton Girls Basketball is striving to become as the year continues. With growing confidence and contributions from up and down the roster, the Lady Marines look to build momentum as the season continues on Monday as they host Canterbury for a 5pm start.