In the race for a new frontrunner in Class C, Hamilton has now officially filled the void left with the graduation of Brittany Shields.

I say this after watching the Raiders beat Blind Brook 65-30 last night to win their eighth straight. Not only have they been impressive during that stretch — beating every contender but North Salem — but they looked impressive, too. I often find myself lukewarm about a surprise contender upon seeing them in person for the first time, but Hamilton looked very much like a legit future champ in Class C.

Obviously, the Raiders still have Shereen Lightbourne, who we all came to know when she torched Blind Brook in the Class C semis at the County Center in 2007 for 35. On that night (and I remember this, though other onlookers would probably deny it in hindsight), we all thought Blind Brook was toast. Sure, Lightbourne put on some display, but the mere fact her team came close to upsetting the Trojans indicated that Blind Brook was fodder in another Haldane gold ball party.

A few days later, Blind Brook proved it was better, crashing Haldane’s championship game party and ending the Blue Devils’ streak of 14 straight gold balls. At the time — and for the next two weeks, as they advanced to the state semis — we were all impressed with the Trojans, and rightfully so. But Hamilton hid. It’s effort in the semifinals had been certified. The next season looked quite interesting.

Only circumstance changed those expectations. Lightbourne tore her ACL and missed the last two months of the season, crushing the Raiders’ hopes. Without her, they were lost. I think that background is important now because of the following truths: A) people probably forgot how good Lightbourne was when she was a sophomore, and B) Hamilton is no longer a one-woman show.

Both truths were brought to light last night. Yes, as you may’ve read in today’s story, Lightbourne scored career point No. 1,000, but she also played a dangerous game (if you’re Blind Brook) on a number of levels. She flanked on the wing and caused matchup problems (at about 5-foot-11). She slashed to the basket and created easy layups for teammates. She roamed the perimeter and picked up steal after steal. And she dropped quickly into the paint to block shots.

And to think: She’s not quite back to 100 percent.

But what allows Lightbourne to have the type of impact we remember from a couple years ago isn’t her talent alone. Hamilton now finds itself blessed with several new weapons, not the least of which is coach Benjamin Carter.

Lightbourne told me something funny after the game. She said she doesn’t know yet what a college workout is like, but she imagines by the feel of it that Carter’s practices are the equivalent of college workouts. “He likes to play mind games,” she said, and I could see in her eyes how demanding Carter is, but how much she respects him for it. Carter previously worked with the White Plains boys program and the Westchester Community College men’s program and with Frenji, and he mostly developed fundamentals in players. Among his pupils were David Boykin (first Fordham, now Bridgeport) and Sean Kilpatrick (soon to be Cincinnati), who were both stars at White Plains.

The weapons on the court are important, of course. Hamilton’s young frontcourt of Ashanti Kennedy and Maia Hood has completed changed the outlook of the team. Kennedy, a freshman, has a game reminiscent of a young Charles Barkley. She is strong, but has great quickness and athleticism for a forward. Those attributes make her dangerous on the offense glass and in the open court. She’s also an excellent finisher. Without question in my mind, she is one of the five best freshmen in the section.

Right now, Hood, an eighth grader, is more of a traditional post player, but she also is an excellent offensive rebounder and finisher. She’s already posted a handful of double-doubles and has a good work ethic in the paint. I had heard a lot about her, and she is already quite good, just as everyone had said.

Kennedy and Hood played modified ball last season. But their teammates were on the varsity and they appear to have developed as well. Ashley Morris, Laura Janos and Jacey Peers give the Raiders the depth they didn’t have last year. Paris London gives them some experience. (I didn’t she her yesterday; she was out, but is scheduled to return next week.)

Because I was so impressed last night with how Hamilton looked, I asked Blind Brook coach Manny Martinez if he thought the Raiders were the favorite. He said they have: 1) the best player in Class C, 2) solid coaching, 3) the best depth, and 4) three good players in Lightbourne, Hood and Kennedy. “Right now,” Martinez said, “they’re the team to beat in Class C.”