Once again, the Bishop Grimes girls basketball team leaned on defense during Saturday’s Section III Class C-2 semifinal against Waterville at Chittenango High School. For both sides, the defense on display made the journey quite taxing — but in the end, the Cobras again fashioned a victory, beating the Indians 40-24. All the Cobras needed in the first quarter was Amelia Heiselman and Brooke Bonacci hitting 3-pointers to get in front, as the fierce defense held Waterville to a single converted free throw. The Indians did hit some baskets in the second period, but couldn’t do much with the margin as Grimes took an 18-8 lead to halftime. Putting up the first six points of the second half, the Cobras stretched the lead to 24-8, and though Waterville kept on fighting back, it never could make a sustained run as Grimes used nine-of-16 free-throw shooting to put it away. Again, Amanda Marcely set the pace as she finished with 13 points, seven of them from free throws. Heiselman’s eight points included making five of six foul shots in the final period. Tenley Pitonzo, despite an early injury scare, had seven points and a team-best 10 rebounds, with Cady Kalemba adding six points. On Wednesday night, Grimes goes to Rome Free Academy to face top seed Mohawk (21-1) in the Class C-1 title game. The Mohicans beat Beaver River 49-42 in its semifinal behind Christy Traglia’s 25 points. Whoever wins will face Little Falls or Cooperstown in the overall Class C final Saturday at Utica Memorial Auditorium.