PLATTSBURGH — Two-time defending state champion Hammond's strong defense in the regionals has put them back in the Class D final four.

After limiting Germantown to 34 points in a first round win Wednesday, the Red Devils defense overpowered Section VII champion Westport for a 51-36 victory Saturday in the Class D girls' basketball quarterfinals at the Plattsburgh State Fieldhouse.

Hammond (22-4) will meet Section IX champion Coleman Catholic in the state semifinals 10:45 a.m. Saturday at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.

"I'd like to credit the way Westport played. I was very impressed the way they came out and hung," Hammond coach Shawn Dack said. "They made us play harder — they made us win the game."

Despite losing, Westport coach Hokey McKinley said he was happy with the way his team competed.

"I was really happy overall with the way we played. They're a very good basketball team," he said.

The Red Devils came into the game against Westport as an experienced team with plenty of momentum. Hammond had to defeat teams ranked 18th and 14th to get into the state tournament and then handed Germantown its first loss of the season to get to the regional final.

Early on none of that mattered for Westport, who trailed by just two heading into the second quarter.

Hammond opened up the game with an 8-2 run, but Westport got a layup from Sarah Gibbs and a short jumper from Martha McKinley to end the quarter with the Red Devils up 8-6.

After that, it didn't take long for Hammond's pressing and trapping to overwhelm the Eagles for most of the game.

Westport cut the deficit to six on back-to-back three pointers from Rebecca White three minutes into the third quarter, but Hammond responded with a 12-5 run to finish out the stanza to regain a double-digit lead, 36-23.

"You have a lot of girls from the last couple of years who have big game experience in this game and the regional finals and the final four. I think a lot of it was their confidence in that moment," Dack said.

Aubrie Dunn scored a game-high 15 for Hammond and Cassie Cunningham added 11. White was the lone Westport player to finish in double figures with 11 — all in the second half — aided by her three three-point field goals.

McKinley said it was a great season for Westport regardless of the regional outcome.

"We had a lot of fun," he said.

—

Hammond 51, Westport 36

Hammond (51)

Atkins 3-0-7, Hollister 1-0-2, Cunningham 3-5-11, Boland 0-0-0, Hunt 2-2-7, Jenne 2-1-5, Crosby 1-0-2, Milsap 0-0-0, Wahlen 0-0-0,

7-1-15, Langtry 1-0-2. Totals: 20-9-51.

Westport (36)

Hopkins 2-0-4, White 4-0-11, Sherman 1-0-2, Hathaway 0-0-0, Rodriguez 1-2-4, M. McKinley 2-0-4, Gibbs 3-0-6, W. McKinley 1-1-3, Frum 1-0-2, Rascoe 0-0-0, Armitige 0-0-0. Totals: 15-3-36.

Hammond8131515—51

Westport661113—36

3-point goals: Hammond (2): Atkins, Hunt. Westport (3): White 3.