Hood averaged nearly 25 points and 13 rebounds per game in her final four games in January. She needs just 17 rebounds to reach 1,000 for her career.
In perhaps Hamilton’s biggest game this year, a Jan. 16 matchup with Ossining, Hood did her best to put the Raiders over the top with 29 points, but Hamilton fell, 88-79.
“It was a big game for us because we lost to them last year. We knew that we had more firepower (this year),” Hood said. “Just coming out, we knew that we had to play hard against Saniya (Chong) and the rest of them because they’re the No. 1 team in the state.”
Hood’s January was all the more impressive considering that she routinely draws two defenders.
“It’s amazing to watch her because every team that we’ve played so far, she demands a double team,” said Hood’s coach, Benjamin Carter. “Just to see her operate and get those kinds of numbers is an amazing thing. She’s satisfied with scoring 23 and 24 because she’s such a team player.”
Hood, for her part, said she has become used to playing under those circumstances.
“I’ve just been playing the same way that I’ve been playing for the last four years,” Hood said. “If I’m being double teamed, that means another player on my team is open.”
The senior star is understandably the focal point for Hamilton, which is unquestionably one of the best teams in the section and in New York State.
And Hood knows it.
“I feel like we do have a bulls-eye because we’re beating all the teams we ultimately have to face twice,” Hood said. “That will give them a reason to play hard and try to beat us even more.”
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