ONEONTA – Greene was fighting an uphill battle almost from the opening tip.

Harpursville drained nearly everything directed at the rim to build a 16-point lead in the game’s opening stanza, and the Hornets turned back every Greene rally winning 47-43 in the Midstate Athletic Conference championship game Saturday at SUNY Oneonta Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon.

Hannah Kimmel scored a game-high 27 points for the Hornets, who also won last year’s MAC title game over the Trojans. Alycia Kimmel added 11 in the victory that included a a key three-point play in the final minutes as she moved over 1,000 points for her career.

It was a repeat title for Harpursville, who rallied to beat Greene by three a year ago. This time, the Hornets played from the front the entire way. “You can’t take anything for granted, and after last year, I told the girls to enjoy it,” said Harpursville coach Kurt Ehrensbeck. “I knew it would be tough to get back here, and I’m thrilled with the way they played. We’re starting to put a lot of good things together.”

Greene cut the early deficit down to two points in the first half getting two three-pointers from Andrea Day in the first half, and Liz Wentlent spearheaded the offense as the margin was a more a manageable 27-20 at the break.

“We dug ourselves a huge hole early, and it’s tough coming back when you’re playing a good team,” said Greene coach Dave Gorton. “We didn’t box out well in the first quarter and gave them some second chances. We’ll need to do a better job with that.”

Harpursville regrouped after halftime and built the margin back to 12 points in the second half, and Alycia Kimmel’s driving layup with two minutes remaining upped her team’s lead back to seven points. Combined with Wentlent fouling out – after scoring 20 points – Greene’s victory hopes appeared sunk.

“Greene kept coming back at us from everywhere, and they’re an outstanding team,” Ehrensbeck said. “I said to the girls, Greene will make a run at us. I was so impressed with how we maintained our composure.”

Hannah Kimmel was 8-for-10 from the foul line in the last quarter helping her team hold off Greene. The Trojans, after Wentlent fouled out, received a three-pointer from Day closing the gap to four. After a Harpursville miscue, Day had another look at a three-pointer with seconds remaining, but it back-rimmed away as time expired.