Mike Vukovcan HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP- The Hopewell girls junior high basketball teams took on West Allegheny this afternoon at the Hopewell Junior High School.
When these two teams matched up earlier this season, Hopewell came away with two impressive wins. Today, despite having a lead for much of the game, the Vikings 7th grade team fell short, 19-18. West Allegheny scored the eventual game-winning basket with 25 seconds left in the game.
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Point guard Rilynn Davis led Hopewell in scoring with 9 points, Isla Rock had 4, Vanessa Kurta had 3 and Nevaeh Pope had 2.
In the second game, the Hopewell 8th graders started out a bit slow with a bunch of unforced turnovers, which kept the game close. However, once they woke up midway through the second quarter, the Lady Vikings athleticism and scoring options were too much for West Allegheny as Hopewell came away with a 38-30 win.
The biggest conference in the game was Hopewell’s ability to create offense from their full-court press, something West A couldn’t deal with all game.
Taking a look at the Hopewell box score, Amiyah Shell led the way with 14 points, while Afton Budris scored 12 points. Budris was very impressive, showing an ability to convert around the hoop, rebound, and play solid defense. Really, really solid game for Afton. Other Hopewell points came from Arionna Shell (7), Ellie McCoy (5) and Rilynn Davis (2).
IN-GAME PLAY BY PLAY:
1st Quarter:
-Amiyah Shell with a rebound, nice long outlet pass to her sister, Arionna, who takes it in for the layup.
-Inbounds play, Boyd to Arionna Shell for 2, 4-4.
-Davis with a nice drive from the wing and feathers it in, West Allegheny 13-7
-Right before the 1st quarter buzzer, Amiyah is fouled shooting and makes both free throws.
End of 1st Quarter: West Allegheny 13 Hopewell 9
2nd Quarter:
-Amiyah Shell with the steal and takes it coast to coast for the layup, West Allegheny 13-11
-Amiyah Shell then knocks down a long 3, Hopewell takes the lead, 14-13
-Nice offensive set for Hopewell as the ball gets in the paint to McCoy, who runs a give and go to Amiyah Shell for 2 more, Hopewell 16-15
-Next possession same thing except it’s Amiyah to McCoy, who takes it in strong, 19-19
-Right before the half, Amiyah with the steal, and eventually finds Budris for a mid-range jumper, Hopewell 21-19
Halftime: 21-21
3rd Quarter:
-Nice ball movement by Hopewell to start the 2nd half, results in a layup by Budris, who made a nice cut to the basket and Amiyah found here with the pass, Hopewell 23-21
-A couple possessions later, same thing, except this time it’s Arionna Shell with the nice pass to a cutting Budris, Hopewell 25-21
-Hopewell turns defense into offense. McCoy pulls down a rebound and then throws a baseball pass to the other end and connects with Amiyah Shell, who makes the layup and is fouled. Hopewell 27-21
-Hopewell’s trap forces a turnover as Arionna gets it to McCoy, who makes a nice two off the glass, Hopewell 29-21
-Amiyah with a strong drive to the basket, she misses but Budris grabs the rebound and puts it in for a layup, Hopewell 32-23
-Great press break by Hopewell as Amiyah passes it to Arionna who finds Buris for 2. Hopewell 34-23
END OF 3RD QUARTER: Hopewell 34 West Allegheny 23 (Vikings outscore West A, 13-2 in the 3rd quarter)
4th Quarter:
-In the nicest, most athletic basket of the game, Arionna Shell takes a pass from Budris and STRONGLY goes to the hoop and converts a contest shot. Very impressive. Hopewell 37-29
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 38 WEST ALLEGHENY 30
**After a day off tomorrow, Hopewell will return to the court on Wednesday when they travel to Beaver.
