Mike Vukovcan Rob Orie and Craig Bokor have been coaching and working with the Hopewell 3rd Grade boys’ travel team since December.
After weeks of practice, this start started competing in game at the start of January and for most of these boys, it was their first time competing in travel games and tournaments.
Although it didn’t show it in terms of results on the scoreboard, this team was in nearly every game but were coming up just short.
Entering this weekends’ tournament at West Allegheny High School, Hopewell was 0-5 but their record wasn’t an indication of their effort and how close they were coming to winning.
For example, here are some of their losses: by 5 to South Fayette, by 2 to Aliquippa, by 6 to Moon and by 5 to South Fayette (again).
Coach Orie and Coach Bokor kept telling the boys to keep working, the tide would be turning, and the results would start showing.
That’s exactly what happened this weekend as they played 3 really solid games and came away with their first two wins of the season.
On Saturday, the Vikings defeated Keystone Oaks before losing to West Allegheny in a game they led for much of the time.
Because of the number of teams entered and not finishing in the top 4 after Saturday, Hopewell would play just one game this morning as they took on another team from West Allegheny.
Despite the 8 AM tipoff, the Vikings were ready to go and dominated West Allegheny for 32 minutes and came away with a 21-7 win.
Congrats to Lincoln Bokor, who led Hopewell in scoring with 10 points and dominated the first half.
GAME RECAP:
*Hopewell’s dribble drive offensive set worked to perfection as Bokor raced past his defender for two points, Hopewell 2-0.
*Bokor was fouled going in for a layup and went on to make both of his free throws, Hopewell 4-0.
*Bokor with a steal at midcourt as he intercepted a pass and went in for an uncontested layup, Hopewell 6-1.
*Nice inbounds play run to perfection as Bokor cut to the hoop for a layup, Hopewell 8-1.
*Grayden McNalley comes up with a steal and then passes up to Coleson Orie who converts a nice spin move in the lane, Hopewell 10-1
*More Hopewell defense as Cohen Biller gets the steal and races to the other end for a layup, Hopewell 12-3
*Hopewell fights for a loose ball and it eventually ends up with Orie who makes another layup, Hopewell 14-3
HALFTIME: HOPEWELL 14 WEST ALLEGHENY 3
2ND HALF
*After making the last shot of the 1st half, Orie makes the first shot of the 2nd half by knocking down a foul line jumper, Hopewell 17-3
*Biller with yet another steal and converts on a nice floater from the baseline, Hopewell 19-3
*The final basket of the game came off a nice give-n-go as Trent Michael connects with Bokor, who gets it to fall, Hopewell 21-4
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 21 WEST ALLEGHENY 7
This 3rd grade team has a well-deserved few days off before returning to action this Thursday when they host Western Beaver.
