Mike Vukovcan IMPERIAL– After picking up their first win of the 2025-26 travel season earlier this morning against Keystone Oaks, the Hopewell 3rd grade boys took on the tournament host team West Allegheny later this morning.
This was a game between two evenly matched teams, and it went back and forth all game. However, West Allegheny had a big 2nd half and came away with a 16-10 win.
Despite the loss, Hopewell did a lot of good things both offensively and defensively.
Although the final score wouldn’t support this, Hopewell’s offense did what they wanted to do and were executing their offensive sets but unfortunately for them, the ball wasn’t dropping. Time after time, a Viking player got off a good shot in the paint only to see the ball spin out or just miss going in. If they keep getting these types of looks, the ball will go in.
Defensively, this Hopewell team built off their strong defensive effort in the first game against Keystone Oaks. They forced a number of turnovers and contested a number of West Allegheny shots. A tip of the cap goes out to Cohen Biller who had unbelievable game on defense and showed tremendous effort for 32 minutes.
1ST HALF:
*Will Vukovcan with a blocked shot, passes off to Coleson Orie who passes it up to Lincoln Bokor, who takes it strong to the hoop for a layup, Hopewell 2-0
*Nice out of bounds play, Orie sets a nice screen, which allows Bokor to get to the hoop for another layup, Hopewell 4-0.
*Biller comes up with steal at midcourt and converts at the other end for a layup, Hopewell 6-2.
*Bokor had a handful of tremendous, aggressive drives to the rim and unfortunately luck wasn’t on his side today. However, his ability and strength to get past his man off the dribble was impressive.
*Right before halftime, Bokor with a missed shot, Vukovcan grabs the offensive rebound and puts it back up for a layup, Hopewell 8-6.
HALFTIME: HOPEWELL 8 WEST ALLEGHENY 6
2ND HALF:
*Biller with a nice pass to Bokor who converts a shot in the lane, Hopewell 10-8
Unfortunately, that was Hopewell’s last basket of the game. This was a two-point game up until 5- or 6-minutes left in the game when West Allegheny was able to convert a couple out of bounds plays.
FINAL SCORE: WEST ALLEGHENY 16 HOPEWELL 10
All in all, it was a fun, successful day for these kids and coaches.
Hopewell will find out later today who they’ll take on tomorrow when elimination play begins in this West Allegheny Tournament.
