CORTLAND — Underclassmen lead the way for the Hubbard Eagles girls basketball team. In fact, the Eagles don’t have a senior on the roster.

Hubbard’s youth movement didn’t stop the Eagles from taking care of business against the Lakeview Bulldogs 44-43 on Thursday.

“I’m so happy for these girls,” said an emotional Hubbard coach Scott Slovesko. “Every game we grow. We get better. We’re so young. They’re showing everyone what a great family they are. That’s our motto. We’re a family. We stick together through and through.”

The Hubbard family was behind sophomore Mary Frangos as she was all alone at the free-throw line in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs had come back from a big deficit to tie the game 43-43. Frangos calmly sank the first of two at the line to send Hubbard home with the win.

“We couldn’t let this one slip away,” Frangos said. “I drove to the hoop. We needed that foul to win the game. It was a little nerve-racking. It was a big moment. I knew I had my teammates behind my back. I was kind of settled down once I got to the line.”

The Eagles had let a 10-point fourth quarter lead slip away thanks to the strong play of Lakeview senior Allie Augustine (team-high 19 points). Augustine repeatedly drove to the hoop and scored to help the Bulldogs get back into the contest.

“We knew we were coming in a little bit thin,” Lakeview coach Kevin Haynie said. “We came back and tied it up in the fourth. They didn’t quit. They played hard. They put everything on the line. Brooke Schneider and Gianna Caruso played great coming off the bench. It was a fun game.”

Lakeview senior Mara Crish got the game started by racing to the hoop for a layup. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, that’s about all that went right in a lopsided first quarter. Hubbard freshman Peytyn Slovesko (14 points) nailed a pair from behind the arc. Teammate Gabriella Jones scored down-low to give the Eagles a 17-5 advantage heading to the second.

“I’m happy with how my team played,” Peytyn Slovesko said. ” We play as a family now. I’m ready to see what the future holds for us. Sophie Murphy fouled out of the game. We rallied around her and stepped up.”

Murphy, a sophomore, led the Eagles with 19 points. She was a force in the post all night for Hubbard (3-4) before fouling out late in the fourth.

“It was a good team win,” Murphy said. “After I fouled out, my teammates really rallied around me. They stepped up and finished the game for us. We’re looking to finish with a winning record this season.”

Slovesko and Murphy continued to score in the second, as Hubbard took a 29-19 halftime lead. Each team struggled to find the bottom of the basket in the third. They battled to a 6-6 tie in the quarter and Hubbard led 35-25 at the end of three.

After Augustine and Teagan Pierce scored, senior Mel Wolffe pulled down a huge rebound for Lakeview (3-4). She tied the game 43-43 after she hit one of two at the free throw line.

“It’s been a whirlwind so far this season,” coach Slovesko said. “With the stuff these girls have been through, I’m just super proud of them.”