PITTSFORD — Any semblance of a fluid or crisp offense disappeared for long stretches for the Penfield and Hilton girls in Tuesday night’s Class AA semifinals at Pittsford Sutherland High School. But defense usually doesn’t have an off night and that’s why the Monroe County girls basketball rivals will square off in Saturday’s 7 p.m. championship at Rush-Henrietta.

Hilton senior guard Cameron Graupman, known for her scoring, made a pair of steals in the final 75 seconds to help the third-seeded Cadets edge No. 2 Victor, 51-43. Top-seeded Penfield had a much tougher time against No. 4 Fairport than it did in two regular-season games, but switching to a 1-3-1 zone in the second half helped key a 43-29 win.

“Every day in practice we work really hard (on defense) and it shows in the game,” said Penfield sophomore Makaila Wilson, who scored all eight of her points in the second half and made a few steals in the heart of the zone that led to fast breaks.

Defense has been a mantra all season for the Patriots (21-1), who allow only 32 points per game, the lowest average in the 15 seasons Mark Vogt has coached them. Senior guard Ali Fitzgerald had 13 points and senior forward Emma Guy had 10 points and nine rebounds but was limited by fouls. She picked up her fourth 19 seconds into the fourth quarter.

► MORE: Girls tournament scores

“I’m a little bit relieved. I myself didn’t have a great game but that’s what my teammates are for. They really held their ground,” Guy said. “It’s a great feeling to win this game and be back in the finals. Hopefully we’ll be able to bring him the brick this time.”

Penfield led just 5-3 after one quarter and 17-9 at halftime. Fairport (13-9), which lost to the Patriots by 16 and 29 points earlier, was down just nine with three minutes left in the third. But senior guard Kristen Baumer (baseline 3-pointer off a good kick-out pass by Fitzgerald) and Wilson (eight rebounds) made big plays. Wilson went coast to coast with defensive rebound for a layup and made a steal that led to Fitzgerald’s conventional three-point play in transition. That put Penfield up 38-23 with about five minutes left and you knew Fairport was too far down to come back.

Part of the Patriots’ problems were improved defense by Fairport, Vogt said. “We went after the ball a little bit more aggressively than we had in the past. It’s a confidence thing,” said first-year Fairport coach Mark Schaller. “I think we went out tonight believing we could actually win the game and that’s the first step.”

Penfield hasn’t won a title since 2012. Hilton hasn’t won since 2011. It lost 58-56 at Penfield on Jan. 12, but the Cadets (19-3) avenged a loss on Tuesday, so they’ll try to do that again.

They lost 53-51 at home to Victor on Dec. 8. The Blue Devils led most of the first half on Tuesday. When Graupman sat the final minute with two fouls, Hilton actually got a spark from backup Linzee Reyes. The sophomore guard drilled a 3-pointer and then banked in a layup off a feed through traffic by freshman guard Megan Letta to tie it at 26 at halftime.

“She’s been working hard in practice, knocking down some shots,” Hilton coach Jeff Eichas said of Reyes.

The Victor defense focused on Graupman, who scored 23 points, a shade under her 24.7 average, and coach Blake Smith credited Kristen Simmons for making Graupman work hard for every point. The Cadets wanted to contain Franny Valenti (13 points). There were eight lead changes in the first nine minutes of the second half.

“Down the stretch Cameron did a nice job creating for her teammates,” Smith said.

Junior guard Allyson Strauss hit a pair of key jumpers, the second coming with 2:31 left that put Hilton up for good, 45-43. Then Graupman stripped Kate Leonard on a drive down the lane with 1:15 to go. After sophomore Alyssa Juergens dropped in a turnaround jumper for Hilton, Graupman stole an inbounds pass with 53 seconds left. Her free throws sealed it.

“This is awesome,” Graupman said. “That win felt amazing.”

JDIVERON@Gannett.com

No. 3 Hilton 51, No. 2 Victor 43

HILTON: Cameron Graupman 23, Megan Letta 3, Allyson Strauss 10, Alyssa Juergens 9, Linzee Reyes 6, Raine Gardner 0, Chloe Graupman 0.

VICTOR: Kristen Simmons 2, Emily Leonard 3, Kirsten Haggerty 3, Emily Gyles 13, Kate Leonard 9, Franny Valenti 13.

3-pointers: Hilton 2 (Strauss, Reyes); Victor 2 (Valenti, Haggerty). Fouled out: Gyles.

No. 1 Penfield 43, No. 4 Fairport 29

FAIRPORT: Emily Schultz 0, Sidney Mack 3, Tori Mayer 0, Catherine Tucci 5, Caroline White 4, Hannah Miller 0, Zoe Janes 9, Hanna Ribble 1, Megan Yawman 7.

PENFIELD: Kristen Baumer 7, Emma Guy 10, Brianne Moxley 2, Ali Fitzgerald 13, Molly Hines 0, Margaret Bassney 0, Jenna Russell 0, Nina Nesselbush 0, Isabella Delisanti 3, Makaila Wilson 8, Olivia Colombo 0, Gabby Pancio 0.

3-pointers: Fairport 3 (Janes 2, Yawman); Penfield 3 (Delisanti, Bauman, Fitzgerald). Fouled out: none.