Mike Vukovcan Hopewell Twp- The Hopewell Vikings HS boys basketball is at the end of a grueling stretch in which they’ve played 4 games in the last 7 games.
The Vikings hosted Summit Academy tonight at Hopewell High School and pretty much dominated for 4 quarters enroute to a 73-52 win.
Sophomores James Armstrong and Justin Shegog led the way as Armstrong scored 24 points while Shegog had 19 points.
Hopewell sophomore James Armstrong
Hopewell played a really strong first half both offensively and defensively and led 44-19 at halftime.
The second half Hopewell got a hit lackadaisical with the big lead and didn’t play as well- unforced turnovers, quick shots and missed defensive assignments.
All of those things will no doubt be addressed in film study but the bottom line is it’s a win, Hopewell’s 8th of the season.
1st Quarter:
*The 1st quarter was pretty much the James Armstrong show as he scored 14 points in the opening frame. The first basket of the game was a drive by Boo from the free throw line.
*Next possession, ball kicked inside to Armstrong who immediately kicked it out to Brody Rock, who drained a 3, Hopewell 5-2.
*Armstrong two off the glass, Hopewell 7-2.
*Armstrong 2 more as he makes a shot in the paint and is fouled, Hopewell 9-4.
*Armstrong with a spin move in the paint and banks it off the glass, Hopewell 11-4.
*Rock with a strong drive to the paint and as he gets doubled, Rock dishes off to Armstrong for 2 more, Hopewell 13-4.
*Hopewell in transition and Armstrong with a strong take for 2, Hopewell 15-4.
*And his last points of the quarter, Armstrong with 2 more down low, Hopewell 17-4.
*After grabbing a defensive rebound, Shegog goes coast to coast for a layup, Hopewell 19-4.
*Right before the end of the quarter, Shegog drains a corner 3, Hopewell 22-7.
End of 1st quarter: Hopewell 22 Summit Academy 7
2nd Quarter:
*After grabbing an offensive rebound, Jack Biega converts a nice floater in the paint, Hopewell 24-7.
*Transition, Biega nice pass to Rock for layup, Hopewell 26-7.
*Great passing sequence as Armstrong dishes to Rock who finds Tre Cameron with a nice bounce pass from the top of the key, Cameron finishes, Hopewell 28-10.
*Another nice pass, this time it’s Armstrong to Shegog, Hopewell 30-10.
*Rock with a strong drive, misses layup but Jeremy Benninghoff is there to get rebound and layup, Hopewell 36-15.
*Rock connects on a jumper from the foul line, Hopewell 38-17.
*Riley Biggins with defensive rebound, and finds Rock with a length of the court pass, Hopewell 40-17.
*More transition as Shegog with a nice pass to Biega for two more, Hopewell 42-17.
*To end the half, Shegog with a steal and an assist to Biggins, Hopewell 44-17.
Halftime: Hopewell 44 Summit Academy 19
3rd Quarter-
*Biega with a missed shot from the top of key but follows his shot, gets rebound and put back, Hopewell 46-21.
*Armstrong with an acrobatic 2 in lane, Hopewell 48-24.
*Armstrong with a cross paint pass to Shegog for a layup, Hopewell 52-28.
*Hopewell with offensive rebound and it goes out to Shegog in corner for 2, Hopewell 54-28.
*Freshman Zack Sampson with a nice dribble drive for 2, Hopewell 56-31.
*Avery Bokor with an offensive rebound and a basket in the paint, Hopewell 58-36.
End of 3rd Quarter: Hopewell 58 Summit Academy 36
4th Quarter-Â
*Rock gets in lane and finds Shegog with a nice bounce pass, Hopewell 60-41.
*’Two High’, Cameron gets it to Shegog down low with a nice bounce pass, Hopewell 64-43.
*Rock with a foul line jumper, Hopewell 71-52.
*Shegog with a tough offensive rebound and a spinning 2 points.
Final Score: Hopewell 73 Summit Academy 52
Hopewell improves to 8-7 and will return to the court on Monday as they host Sto-Rox.
