Mike Vukovcan Winning isn’t always pretty but regardless of how it looks, a win is a win, and it goes without saying that ‘Winning is Fun’.
The Hopewell HS boys’ basketball team traveled to Beaver last night and had to battle for four quarters but in the end the Vikings came away with a 63-54 win.
It’s pretty simple, Hopewell won the game because of their toughness, both offensively and defensively. They were led in that category by sophomore Justin Shegog, who was a beast in the paint. If there was a loose ball to be had, Shegog fought to get it.
Another key element to the win was the balanced score sheet as 4 Hopewell players reached double-digits in scoring: James Armstong, Brody Rock, Jusin Shegog and Tre Cameron.
Defense and intangibles don’t show up in the score sheet but if they did, Nick Adams and Jack Biega would be near the top of the list. Biega played a tremendous defensive game as he was assigned the task of guarding Beaver’s top shooter. Adams did his usual job of doing all of the little things really, really well, whether that was making the extra pass, setting the screen, fighting for a loose ball or grabbing a rebound.
As mentioned earlier, this was a battle for the entire game but after trailing by 3 points heading to the 4th quarter, Hopewell used a strong final period to come away with the win and improve their record to 12-7 and 4-3 in the section.
In terms of their playoff situation, if Ambridge loses just 1 of their remaining 4 sections games, Hopewell clinches a spot in the playoffs. The Bridgers finish the season with games against Central Valley (tonight), Beaver, Avonworth and Hopewell.
With this scenario, it’s very, very likely that Hopewell will be going to the playoffs for the first time in 16 seasons, but we’ll wait to hand out any congratulations or make anything official.
HOPEWELL/BEAVER GAME RECAP:
1st Quarter:
*Loose ball in the paint, Armstrong grabs it and puts it up for 2, Hopewell 2-0.
*After grabbing a defensive rebound, Hopewell gets in transition and it ends with a strong take, layup by Biega, Hopewell 4-0.
*Hopewell comes up with a steal, and it ends with a floater in the lane by Cameron, Hopewell 6-1.
*Passing at the top of the key and ball is eventually tossed in the paint to Armstrong, who muscles his way for 2, Hopewell 8-5.
*Rock is fouled driving to the rim and would make 2 shots at the line, Hopewell 10-5.
*Nice out of bounds play results in a 3-pointer by Jeremy Benninghoff, Hopewell 13-8.
*:20 seconds left in the quarter, Shegog hits a 3-pointer from the wing, Hopewell 16-8.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: HOPEWELL 16 BEAVER 11
2nd Quarter:
*Shegog pulls down 2 offensive rebounds and after the second one, powers it up for a layup, Hopewell 18-11.
*Benninghoff pulls down the defensive rebound, passes up to Cameron, who dribbles up and hits a 3-pointer and is fouled, Hopewell 21-13.
*Another 3 pointer, this one from Rock at the top of the key, Hopewell 24-15
*Shegog battles 2 guys for an offensive rebound, puts it up and is fouled, Shegog goes 1/2 from the line, Hopewell 25-17.
*:55 seconds left, once again, Shegog pulls down 2 offensive rebounds and eventually makes a layup, Hopewell 28-22.
HALFTIME: HOPEWELL 28 BEAVER 22
3rd Quarter:
*Following a Beaver 3 pointer to open the 2nd half, Rock counters with a 3-pointer of his own from the corner, Hopewell 31-25
*Biega with a strong take from the wing for a layup, Hopewell 33-25
*Biega gets his shot blocked but Armstrong gets the offensive rebound and layup, Hopewell 35-25
*Cameron with an aggressive drive for a layup and is fouled, makes 1 of 2, Hopewell 36-29
*Cameron with a nice cross court bounce pass to Armstrong for a layup, Hopewell 38-32
*In the blocks, Armstrong muscles in for a contest layup, Hopewell 40-38
END OF 3RD QUARTER: BEAVER 43 HOPEWELL 40
4th Quarter:
*Hopewell breaks the press and it results in a contest layup by Armstrong, Beaver 43-42
*Armstrong with a steal at midcourt and a layup, Hopewell 44-43
*Loose ball, Hopewell gets it and results in another 3 by Rock, Hopewell 47-43
*Another steal by Hopewell, as Cameron picks it off and drives in for layup, Hopewell 49-43
*Shegog gets shot blocked, but Armstrong gets rebound and layup plus foul, Hopewell 52-46
*Nice give and go, Rock to Armstrong for 2, Hopewell 54-48.
*2:08 left, Armstrong fouled shooting, makes 1 of 2 at the line, Hopewell 55-52.
*Armstrong gets defensive rebound and is fouled, makes 1 of 2 at the line, Hopewell 56-52.
*Armstrong with defensive rebound, leads the transition and passes off to Cameron, who finishes layup, Hopewell 58-52.
*:30 seconds left, Armstrong at the top of the key, finds Shegog underneath for a layup, Hopewell 60-52.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 63 BEAVER 54
Next Up: Hopewell returns to action on Friday as they travel to take on 1st place Quaker Valley.
