Hopewell Basketball
Hopewell HS Boys Basketball Remains Undefeated With 74-54 Win Over New Brighton
The Hopewell High School Boys basketball team put on quiet a performance in their 2023-24 home opener as they completely dominated New Brighton from start to finish, 74-54.
The 20-point victory wasn’t even indicative of how well the Vikings played as they start out the season 3-0. Leading the way tonight was Zach x 2: Kovell and Gigliotti. Kovell scored a game-high 27 points, while Gigliotti scored 10, as did Aaron Dickhart.
Three huge factors tonight were: 1) the Vikings ability to shoot the 3-ball. 2) the quickness of Hopewell’s guards and the ease in which they were able to get to the hoop. 3) the tenacity of their man-to-man defense.
1ST QUARTER SUMMARY:
-Things got going for Hopewell right off the opening tip as Kovell stole the ball and drove in for an uncontested layup. Hopewell 2-0.
-Just like he was doing in warmups, Thomas Pipkins III hit a 3 from the top of the key. Hopewell 5-2.
-The first evidence of Hopewell’s quickness as Gigliotti drives right down the middle of the lane and hits a shot off the glass. Hopewell 7-2.
-Kovell with a steal and runs the baseline for a reverse layup. Hopewell 11-8.
-Gigliotti with both quickness and some toughness as he drives past his defender, dips his shoulder for a layup. Hopewell 13-8.
-Nice ball movement for the Vikings as they swung the ball at the top of the key with Pipkins eventually finding Kovell, who nails another 3. Hopewell 16-8.
-Kovell gobbles up a defense rebound and throws a length of the court pass right on the money to Nick Adams for a layup. Hopewell 18-8.
-Nice out of bounds play gets Kovell open for an uncontested 3. Hopewell 21-10.
-Gigliotti with a steal and finds Kovell open for a 3. Hopewell 26-12.
-Right before the end of the quarter, Nazhamere Jeter drives into the paint for 2.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: HOPEWELL 28 NEW BRIGHTON 14
2ND QUARTER SUMMARY:
-Defense leads to offense as Jeter flies through the air for a big block, who passes it to Kovell who finds Adams for 2. Hopewell 32-15.
-Gigliotti with a drive inside who then finds Aaron Dickhart for 3. Hopewell 35-17.
-Gigliotti then keeps it himself and goes in for a left-handed layup. Hopewell 37-22.
-The Vikings continue to get to the hole with ease, this time Pipkins with an acrobatic layup in the lane. Hopewell 39-22.
-With 1:08 left before halftime, Dickhart nails another 3. Hopewell 44-27.
-Like they did at the end of the 1st quarter, Hopewell closes the quarter with a bucket as Kovell breezes past his defender for a layup.
HALFTIME: HOPEWELL 46 NEW BRIGHTON 27.
3RD QUARTER SUMMARY:
-Like he did at the start of the 1st and 2nd quarter, Kovell scored an easy 2 as he once again blew past his defender. Hopewell 48-27.
-Adams gets in the act from outside as he hits his first 3. Hopewell 51-31.
-Kovell with the steal and then throws a full-court bounce pass to Dickhart, who goes in for a layup. Hopewell 53-31.
-Gigliotti toys with his defender, drives in and kicks it out to Kovell for 3. Hopewell 56-31.
-Jeter grabs a defensive rebound and throws a length of the court pass to Dickhart for 2. Hopewell 58-31.
-Gigliotti with a steal and then finds Jeter for a 3. Hopewell 63-34.
-Kovell drives and then finds Austin Martinez in the corner for 3. Hopewell 63-34.
END OF THE 3RD QUARTER: HOPEWELL 68 NEW BRIGHTON 40.
4TH QUARTER SUMMARY:
-Martinez goes inside this time for a strong take, which results in a basket. Hopewell 72-40.
-While bringing the ball up, Gigliotti takes it himself for his final basketball of the night. Hopewell 74-48.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 74 NEW BRIGHTON 54
The Vikings now are 3-0 and are next in action tomorrow night as they travel to Freedom. Their next home game isn’t until December 19th when they take on Beaver.