Mike Vukovcan In order to get better at anything, sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself.
That’s exactly what the Hopewell Girls Navy Travel Basketball team are doing right now.
After having an outstanding 2023-24 travel season as 5th graders, the Lady Vikings decided to make things difficult on themselves.
Aside from competing in the 6th Grade Beaver County Travel League, Coach Yurcina’s team is also playing in a 7th/8th grade league.
This was done for one reason, to play against older and better competition in the hopes of getting better for the future.
Today, these Hopewell girls took on a very good Moon 8th grade team and the New Brighton 7th/8th grade team. In the end, these gritty and talented girls did ok.
In the first game, the Vikings lost to Moon, 39-7 but in the second game, they rebounded and beat New Brighton, 14-13, in dramatic fashion.
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With the score tied at 13, Rilynn Davis was fouled shooting with 5 seconds remaining. Davis went to the line for the win and after missing the first shot, Davis calmly stepped up and drained the second attempt.
Hopewell Wins, 14-13!
Despite playing older competition and trailing 9-2, these girls battled back for the win.
Trailing 9-2, Hopewell got baskets from Lydia Jaquay, Davis and Nevaeh Pope. Then trailing 11-6, Hopewell scored the last 8 points off the game on three field goals from Davis and a free throw from Talia Santia.
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Next up for this Hopewell team is a huge opportunity as they start competition tomorrow in a tournament in New Castle.
The importance of this is that the top two teams in this tournament qualify for a national tournament that will take place at Penn State University.
The eight team field includes Beaver, Neshannock, Sharon, Plum, Boardman, Canfield and Ellwood City.
This is a two-day tournament as the Lady Vikings will open up against Neshannock at 8:50 AM.
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Good luck Hopewell, we’re all pulling for you!
