Hilliard has been to Providence, R.I., and in Philly for the Reebok All-American Camp, and is set to play in the AAU nationals in Orlando next week.

''I've been playing a lot of basketball for the Jersey Shore Warriors AAU team,'' he said. ''I've been getting a lot of interest from D-I schools. It's a fun process, but it's starting to get a little stressful. I'm chasing my dream and I'm willing to do anything to make it happen.''

Hilliard relieves the stress by playing with his Liberty buddies.

''I love coming back from AAU to play with my high school team,'' he said. '' I don't know those guys I play with at AAU. I grew up with these guys and I like playing with them and for my coaches. It's still the most fun I have anywhere.''

Liberty coach Chad Landis said it's fun to have Hilliard around.

''Darrun's had a great summer,'' Landis said. ''The thing I like is that the better he gets, the more he wants to work. And he just wants to play. Any chance he gets, whether's it's a game or a workout, he's there. The offers are starting to come.

''James Madison, VCU, Delaware are among those who have offered full rides and he's only going to be a junior next year. People see his talent, but his game goes on far away from the blacktop. He's the hardest-working young athlete I've ever coached.''

Liberty's win was part of a perfect night for the Lehigh Valley Conference.

Besides the Hurricanes, Allen, Bethlehem Catholic, Freedom and Northampton all collected wins over non-LVC teams.

Allen was a ''Final Four'' team at the Stellar event last week, but Freedom and Northampton were a combined 1-4 and are looking for much better results.

''We were 0-2 and let two games slip away to good teams [Bensalem and Hatboro],'' Patriots coach Joe Stellato said. ''We've got some young guys and unproven guys. We have guys who haven't played together, but I've been through this before and we're going to be all right.''

Mike Prater led Freedom with 11 points, while Mike Coccia and Izel Dickerson scored six apiece. All three are seniors.

''The last couple of years, we've had good summers and that put us on the radar,'' Stellato said. ''This year, we're off the radar and I like that. It's not a bad place to be.''

Joining Freedom off the radar is Northampton. The K-Kids, though, opened up with a 45-19 rout of Antietam.

''We have a great group of kids, and we're having a good summer,'' Northampton coach Ed Ohlson said. ''We're not in a league, but we've got some good things going on. We're just working out at the Rec Center and we're getting 18 kids at open gyms. We're bringing in teams like Easton, Liberty and Bangor and we're getting a lot more out of it.

''Jim Hutnik [Easton's coach] gave me the idea of getting out of a league. We weren't getting everybody here and it was helter-skelter and everybody was getting frustrated for different reasons, including me. So, we're just focusing on these tournaments and the DeSales team camp.''

Brian Stevko led the Kids with 16 points. Tyler Stephenson added 10 points and Ohlson got contributions up and down the line.

''The seniors are leading the younger guys and telling them to get here,'' Ohlson said. ''That's what you need.''

All of Thursday's winners are back in action on Saturday, but six more varsity games are on tap beginning at 6 tonight.

The girls tourney had two close games to finish out its six-game, opening-night card. Parkland got a 3-pointer from Tara Huber with 30 seconds left to beat Saucon Valley 33-32 and defending champ Allen was edged by Southern Lehigh 34-32.

Huber finished with 15.

''We finished sixth in the Stellar tournament and we're looking to do well here, too,'' Parkland coach Wes Spence said. ''The girls are playing hard and the more games we can play, the better.''

Earlier winners in the double-elimination format included Emmaus, Daniel Boone, Northern Lehigh and Lehighton.