Mike Vukovcan Sometimes what feels like the end is often the beginning, such as the case with the Hopewell HS Boys basketball program.
The reality of things is that this has been a program mired in losing and one without any optimism for the future.
That’s not me being negative or just my opinion, that’s reality, all you have to do is look at the numbers.
Over the last 11 years, the Hopewell HS boys’ basketball program had a combined record of: 52-202, which equates to an average yearly record of 5-17.
Here’s a year-by-year look at their overall record:
2024/25: 9-12
2023/24: 7-16
2022/23: 4-19
2021/22: 4-17
2020/21: 1-15
2019/20: 8-14
2018/19: 3-18
2017/18: 3-19
2016/17: 2-19
2015/16: 0-19
2014/15: 6-17
2013/24: 5-17
Records like that over a sustained period of time are unacceptable and the talent in this district was better than being 52-202.
The long-term impact is that losing like this for such a long period of time completely discourages kids from wanting to play the sport. Why put in all this time when the season continuously ended with these types of results.
Following last basketball season, the Hopewell High School board did something to try and change the culture and perception of boys’ basketball in Hopewell.
In a move that looked obvious from the outside, the school board made the easy and no-brainer of a decision to hire Hall of Fame head Doug Biega.
Like all coaching hirings at the high school level, nothing is ever smooth but, in the end, the school board made a move that will positively impact boys’ basketball for years to come.
What we are seeing is something we haven’t in many, many years- winning and competitive basketball being played. Following last night’s win over Sto-Rox, Hopewell improved their record to 9-7, which is their highest win total in 16 years.
Because of this, the Hopewell Vikings have an opportunity to make the WPIAL basketball playoffs for the first time in 16 seasons.
With six games left in the regular season, here’s a look at the current standings.
CLASS 4A/SECTION 2
(Top 4 teams make the playoffs)
QUAKER VALLEY: 5-0
CENTRAL VALLEY: 3-2
AVONWORTH: 3-2
HOPEWELL: 2-3
BEAVER: 1-4
AMBRIDGE: 1-4
The Vikings have 5 section games remaining, starting with a home game this Friday against Avonworth, followed by another home game against Beaver. These two will be very crucial to the Vikings chances of making the playoffs.
I can tell you that a packed gym this Friday against Avonworth would be appreciated by the program and would give them a true home court advantage.
Qualifying for the playoffs would be huge boost for this program and it’s future. The encouraging part of this growing program is that this is just year one of the rebuild and the core of this team will be returning.
Sophomores and freshman that are contributing this year: James Armstrong, Brody Rock, Justin Shegog, Jack Biega, Tre Cameron, Avery Bokor, Zack Sampson, Jayvion Lindsey and Aaden Gonzalez. That’s not to mention some 8th graders that will be entering the program next season and will have a year to learn and develop with the high school coaches.
It’s an exciting time in Hopewell High School boys’ and girls’ athletics as many of its teams and athletes are winning and succeeding at a high level.
Thanks to the move by the school board to bring in Biega and his talented coaching staff, the boys basketball program is finally a part of this winning culture.
“COACHING MATTERS”
