Riordan handles Mitty in Andrew Hilman’s return from injury, shutting down Monarchs’ offense in win
SAN FRANCISCO — Andrew Hilman is back, and Archbishop Riordan looks pretty unstoppable.
Those are the simple truths one would gather from watching the Crusaders face off against Archbishop Mitty on Tuesday night at the Crusader Forum in the City.
Riordan, last season’s Central Coast Section Open Division champion, largely breezed to a 67-40 win on the strength of its stout defense, balanced, timely scoring and the return of Hilman, who had missed the last two games with a hip injury.
The University of San Francisco commit scored 14 quiet points in his comeback game, moving well out on the floor but not urgently needed for Riordan to generate offense.
Instead, the Crusaders used a group effort to score and lock down Mitty’s scoring attack. They further established themselves as the favorite in the West Catholic Athletic League, shutting off the spigot for a Monarchs team that scored prolifically in its previous game, a 66-47 win over Bellarmine.
Now, Riordan is 13-1 and 5-0 in the WCAL, and the Crusaders haven’t shown any sign that they will drop a league game this season.
Riordan has one more game this week in WCAL play, a trip to Valley Christian, before facing Modesto Christian in likely the biggest measuring-stick game the Crusaders will have before the CIF NorCal regional playoffs begin in late February.
Riordan has been in control so far this season, one year after it went 29-2, 14-0 in the WCAL and lost in the CIF Open Division state championship game.
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