Hopewell Junior High Basketball
Despite Loss, Junior High Blue Team Shows Progress in Loss to South Fayette
Aside from wins, the one thing that any coaches wants to see from their team is progress and getting better.
Although the Hopewell Junior High Blue basketball team has won only one game this season, the Vikings are playing better and have continued to be competitive.
This afternoon was another example of that. In their first game against South Fayette, Hopewell was never in the game and ended up losing, 57-22.
The margin of defeat was 25 points but anyone who was there saw that it was much closer as the deficit was a lot less than that in the second half.
A couple keys today were Hopewell’s improvement in breaking the press, secondary scoring and good ball movement on offense.
1st Quarter Recap:
*Hopewell breaks the SF press and it results it Zack Sampson finding Nykyeron Leonora for a basket underneath. Hopewell 2-0
*Once again, Vikings break the press and this time, Sampson keeps it himself for a layup. Â Hopewell 4-2
*Later in the quarter, Josh Gill penetrates the lane and finds Andrew Arzberger for 2. Hopewell 4-2
*Late in the quarter, Arzberger with an aggressive drive to the basket and gets fouled shooting. He went on to make both FT’s.  Hopewell 8-4
End of 1st Quarter: South Fayette 9 Hopewell 8
2nd Quarter Recap:
*Immediately after committing a turnover, Sampson intercepts a SF pass and takes it to the hoop for 2. Â South Fayette 13-11
*Once again Hopewell breaks the press as Sampson with a nice pass in the lane to Luke Vukovcan, who finishes. 13-13
*Leonora with a strong drive to the basket and gets fouled. Hopewell 14-13
*After bringing down a few offensive rebounds. Sampson finally puts it in. South Fayette 20-17
Halftime: South Fayette 22 Hopewell 17
3rd Quarter Recap:Â
*Arzberger with a strong defensive rebound and then with a nice outlet to Sampson, who takes it all the way to the hoop. South Fayette 26 Hopewell 20
*After grabbing a loose ball, Sampson connects with Leonora for converts a layup. South Fayette 29 Hopewell 22
*Following a missed 3-point shot by Ryan Gaguzis, Leonora gets the offensive rebound and layup. South Fayette 31 Hopewell 24
End of 3rd Quarter: South Fayette 35 Hopewell 24
4th Quarter Recap:
—This is where the game got away from Hopewell as they were outscored, 16-4. The Vikings just ran out of gas.
*Gill with a missed shot, Arzberger grabs the offensive rebound and puts it back in for 2. South Fayette 35 Hopewell 26 (Still a single digit game).
*Next possession, Hopewell gets within seven points on a Sampson floater off the glass. South Fayette 35-28
Final Score: South Fayette 51 Hopewell 28
