Lillian Otto For the third time this season, Hopewell squared off with Central Valley, this time with everything on the line.
After beating Central Valley twice earlier in the year, everyone knew the third matchup would be the toughest. With a trip to the state playoffs on the line, there was no room for comfort and no space for past wins to matter. It was survive and advance, or go home, with your season over.
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First Quarter
The game opened with Brody Rock floating in the first bucket of the night to tie things at 2–2. James Armstrong controlled the glass early, and Tre Cameron attacked the rim to draw a foul and give Hopewell an early spark. Jeremy Benninghoff knocked down a shot to keep things close, but Central Valley responded with energy and shot making. By the end of the first quarter, Hopewell trailed 12–8, and it was clear this would be a fight.
Second Quarter
Hopewell’s defense tightened early and began to generate momentum. A big block by Benninghoff and a steal-and-score from Rock to Cameron cut into the deficit. Armstrong kissed one off the glass. Rock answered a Central Valley three with one of his own to make it 17–19 and keep the crowd alive.
But Central Valley found their rhythm from deep late in the quarter. Hopewell struggled to close out on shooters, and the lead stretched with Central Valley carrying a 28–17 advantage into halftime.
Third Quarter
Down double digits with their season hanging in the balance, Hopewell responded with heart, refusing to fold.
Rock took over offensively, floaters over defenders, a fast-break layup, a smooth baseline jumper, and a steal that turned into two more points. Benninghoff buried a three from the wing. Armstrong battled inside and capitalized on turnovers.
Every run Hopewell made, Central Valley answered. Still, the fight was there. Heading into the fourth quarter, Hopewell trailed 42–32, but no one on that bench believed the season was over.
Fourth Quarter
The final eight minutes embodied everything about this team and their run this year.
Rock drilled back-to-back threes to match Central Valley shot for shot. Armstrong muscled in a hook shot. Nick Adams cleaned up a put-back. Rock attacked the rim again. Then Armstrong delivered the moment that brought everyone to their feet, a clutch basket through contact, plus the foul, cutting the deficit to just two.
Justin Shegog calmly knocked down two massive free throws. Jack Biega split a pair at the line. The pressure was suffocating, the gym was electric, and Hopewell kept battling possession after possession to stay within range to try and complete the comeback.
In the closing moments though, Central Valley was able to pull away just enough to hold Hopewell at bay. In a fitting end to the season, Nick Adams scored the final points of his basketball career and when the final buzzer sounded, Central Valley end up on top, 58–51.
Final Thoughts from Coach Biega
I connected with Coach Doug Biega after the game to get his thoughts on the game and season. “The experience we gained this season and the successes that we’ve had will last forever in the rebuild of this program. This program was on its deathbed. And these guys resurrected it. I cannot be any prouder than I am to be their coach.”
I know this wasn’t the outcome Hopewell wanted. It wasn’t the ending they worked all season for. But it was a game that defined resilience, toughness, and brotherhood, which is what defined this team all year long.
Beating a good team twice is hard. Beating them a third time with a state playoff berth on the line is one of the toughest challenges in sports. On this night, Central Valley earned it.
But Hopewell walked off the floor with heads high knowing this truly is just the beginning. I speak for everyone in Hopewell by saying thank you for providing all of us with such a fun and entertaining season of Basketball and we can’t wait to see what lies ahead next year.
Game Recap
1ST QUARTER
2-2 floater by Brody
Rebound by boo boo
Leading to foul on floater from tre 4-3
Foul on boo boo, 6-3
End of first 8-12 CV
2ND QUARTER
Great defense leads to CV turnover
Block by Jeremy, CV leads 8-15
Steal by Brody and then layup by Tre 10-15
Jeremy for 2 pt floater 12-16
Floater off the glass boo boo 14-16
Brody answers a CV 3 with a 3, 17-19
Hopewell is struggling to guard the 3 pt line
Jeremy for a foul shot, 18-27
End of Half: Cv up 17-28
3RD QUARTER
20-28 Rock floats it over the defenders’ head for two
21-30 Armstrong makes 1 of 2 free throws
23-30 Rock gets a fast break layup
26-33 Benninghoff swishes a three from the wing
28-33 Rock hits another base line jumper
30-35 Rock gets the steal plus the layup
32-37 Armstrong capitalizes off of a CV turnover for another layup
32-42 End of 3rd Quarter
4TH QUARTER
35-45 Rock matches a CV three with a Hopewell three
38-45 Another three pointer drops for Rock
40-48 Armstrong hits a hook shot for two
42-48 Nick Adams scores off a put-back
44-48 Rock scores off yet another layup
46-48 Armstrong gets the clutch basket plus the foul
48-50 Justin Shegog makes 2 of 2 free throws
49-52 Jack Biega makes 1 of 2 free throws
51-58 Adams gets his last points of his basketball career
51-58 Final
