Hopewell Boys Junior High Basketball Team Splits Scrimmage Against Laurel

The Hopewell Boys junior high program open their 2023-24 season next Tuesday against Beaver and this morning, they got some on-court work in as they made the trip to Lawrence County to take on Laurel High School.

This season, instead of having a 7th and 8th grade team, Hopewell is fielding a Blue and a Gold Team comprised of both 7th and 8th graders. The Gold team is coached by Doug Biega while the Blue team is coached by Mike Gaguzis.

The Vikings took the court this morning with the Gold team putting on a dominating performance while the Blue team lost but can take away some positives from their performance.

We’ll start with a recap of the Gold teams’ game. This game was never in doubt and this group of players, which finished last season 15-0, look as though it’s going to be another really successful season.

RECAP OF HOPEWELL’S GOLD TEAM SCRIMMAGE AGAINST LAUREL:

1ST QUARTER:
*The first basket of the game was an indication of how this game would go as the Vikings were just dominant on the offensive and defensive glass. Jack Biega missed a shot in the lane but James Armstrong gobbled up a rebound and put it back for 2.  Hopewell 2-0.
*Armstrong with the steal and drove the length of the court for a layup. Hopewell 4-0.
*Jack Biega gets down low for an offensive rebound and finds Avery Bokor for 2 plus the foul.  Hopewell 6-0.
*Brody Rock with the ball at the top of the key with a great entry pass down low for Armstrong for 2 plus the foul.   Hopewell 11-0.
*The Vikings outside shooting got going as Bokor nails a 3 from the left wing. Hopewell 14-0.
*Following that basket, Hopewell with the full court press, Biega with the steal and layup.  Hopewell 16-0.

END OF 1ST QUARTER: HOPEWELL 17-2.

2ND QUARTER:
*While in their half-court offense, Biega with the ball at the top of the key, drives into the paint and hits 2 off the glass.   Hopewell 21-2.
*More execution in their half court, as they run a pick-n-roll, Biega finds Armstrong for 2.  Hopewell 23-2
*Following a defense rebound, Hopewell’s transition game get them offense as Rock dishes to Armstrong. Hopewell 25-2.
*Then Maddox Fattore really had a strong close of the quarter as he gets a steal, drives the court and finds Armstrong down low for 2. Hopewell 30-2
*Fattore then comes up with another steal but keeps it this time for a layup.  Hopewell 32-5.
*Next time down, Fattore with a nice drive down the lane for 2.  Hopewell 34-6.
*Then right before halftime, Fattore with another strong drive and this time goes off the glass for 2.  Hopewell 36-6.

HALFTIME: HOPEWELL 36 LAUREL 6.

3RD QUARTER:
*Hopewell in transition, Bokor 2 plus the foul.   Hopewell 41-8.
*Great ball movement as the ball is passed on the perimeter, down low and then back out as Armstrong finds Tre Cameron for 3. Hopewell 44-8.
*More nice passing as Bokor spots Armstrong down 2 for 2.  Hopewell 51-10.
*Cameron with the steal and takes it in for a layup. Hopewell 53-12.
*Armstrong with a steal off the press and takes it baseline for a reverse lay-up. Hopewell 55-12.

END OF 3RD QUARTER: HOPEWELL 55-12

4th QUARTER:
*Bokor with a nice 1-on-1 drive in the lane, 2 plus the foul. Hopewell 58-12.
*In-bounds play, Bokor drains a 3-pointer. Hopewell 61-12.
*Late in the game, Jayvion Lindsey gets on the scoreboard with 2 in the lane. Hopewell 68-12.
*Then to close out the scoring, point guard Manny Gomez takes it to the hole for 2.

FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL (GOLD TEAM) 70   LAUREL 12

RECAP OF HOPEWELL’S BLUE TEAM SCRIMMAGE AGAINST LAUREL:

1ST QUARTER:
*Following a defensive rebound, Josh Gill with a nice assist to Zach Sampson for 2.    Hopewell 2-0.
*Later in the quarter, Jackson Yurcina finds Nykyeron Leonara for 2 points.  Hopewell 4-0.

END OF 1ST QUARTER: HOPEWELL 4-2

2ND QUARTER:
*Nice half-court offense with the pick-n-roll as Luke Vukovcan with an assist to Sampson for 2.  Laurel 10-6
*Sampson, who had a really strong game, with a deep 2 off the glass. Laurel 14-8.

HALFTIME:   LAUREL 14-8

3RD QUARTER:
*Following a Laurel missed shot, Leonara with the rebound and gets it to Sampson who drives the court for 2 plus the foul.   Laurel 14-10.
*Sampson then does it from outside again with a jumper from the top of the key.  Laurel 16-12.

END OF 3RD QUARTER: Laurel 23-12

4TH QUARTER:
*In their half-court offense, screen and roll as Vukovcan finds Sampson for 2.  Laurel 23-14.
*Next possession down, Vukovcan with a spin in the lane, 2 + the foul. Laurel 23-16.
*Vukovcan with an offensive rebound and passes to Sampson for 2.  Laurel 23-18.
*Vukovcan drives the lane and finds an open Andrew Arzberger for a layup. Laurel 27-20.
*In the closing minutes, Yurcina with a nice cross over in the lane and hits a medium range jumper.

FINAL SCORE: LAUREL 36 HOPEWELL 22 

The 2023 season opens up for real on Tuesday as Hopewell will host Beaver at the Hopewell Junior High School. The first game will tip-off at 3:30 PM.