Hopewell Basketball
Hopewell HS Boys Basketball Opens Season with Blowout of Western Beaver
South Side– Hopewell entered today’s game against Western Beaver as the clear favorite and at the end of the game, they proved to be the better team.
On this day, Hopewell just had too much depth and overall skill as they came away with a 68-31 win, their first win of the 2024-25 season.
Hopewell was able to earn this dominating win even though Zack Gigliotti, wasn’t able to play due to a lower body injury. That speaks to the depth that this team has.
As the season progresses, a challenge for Hopewell head coach Mark D’Alessandris will be to settle in on a rotation, so that his top players are getting proper minutes and are able to settle in a groove on the court.
Hopewell will return to action tomorrow afternoon as they take on the host team, South Side.
1ST QUARTER:
*The first field of the season for Hopewell came as a result of nice interior passing as Thomas Pipkins gets a nice assist to James Armstrong. Hopewell 3-0.
*More nice passing as Zach Kovell with a nice entry from the top of the circle to the opposite block to Nick Adams for 2. Hopewell 5-0.
*Hopewell had the definite advantage down low and it showed on this sequence. Freshman Tre Cameron misses a 3-pointer, but Armstrong grabs the rebound and puts it back up for 2 plus the foul. Hopewell 9-3.
*More nice work down low as Pipkins gets an offensive rebound then dishes out to Cameron, who makes his first varsity 3-pointer. Hopewell 12-3.
*Transition leads to a basket as Pipkins pushes it and finds Adams with a nice pass for the layup, Hopewell 16-5.
*Freshman Jack Biega dives on the court for the loose ball and from on the ground, passes to Pipkins who converts. Hopewell 18-7.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: HOPEWELL 18 KEYSTONE OAKS 7
2ND QUARTER:
*In-bounds conversion as Armstrong with 2 more inside. Hopewell 20-9.
*Following a defensive rebound, Armstrong dribbles up and dishes to Kovell for the layup. Hopewell 22-9.
*Another nice in-bounds basket for Armstrong. Hopewell 24-11.
*Hopewell hits the glass as Kovell grabs the rebound and with an unselfish pass to a wide-open Armstrong for 2. Hopewell 26-11.
*The Hopewell 9th graders had a nice stretch here as Cameron with a nice pass inside to Armstrong for 2. Hopewell 30-11.
*The Vikings break the press and Brody Rock dribbles it in and puts it off the glass for his first varsity basket. Hopewell 32-14.
*Same thing, this time it’s Cameron who takes it inside with authority for 2 points. Hopewell 34-14.
*Right before the half, Biega pulls down an offensive rebound (7 for the game) and pass to Aaron Dickhart for two points. Hopewell 36-16.
*Then Armstrong with one of his 4 blocked shots for the game, then with a long pass to Cameron, who puts in a layup.
HALFTIME: HOPEWELL 40 WESTERN BEAVER 20
3RD QUARTER:
*First basket of the 2nd half comes as Pipkins comes up with a nice entry pass to Adams down low for 2. Hopewell 42-20.
*Later it was Dickhart with a really nice floater off the glass. Hopewell 44-23.
*Kovell uses his quickness to get in the paint and dishes off to Rock for 2 points off the glass.
END OF 3RD QUARTER: HOPEWELL 47 WESTERN BEAVER 27
4TH QUARTER:
Hopewell completely dominated the final quarter, outscoring Western Beaver, 21-4.
*Cameron shows his outside range as he nails a foul-line jumper off the dribble. Hopewell 49-20.
*Hopewell successfully breaks the press and Armstrong with a strong pass in the corner to Kovell, who drains a 3-pointer. Hopewell 52-27.
*Successful screen and role, Cameron locates Armstrong for 2 more. Hopewell 54-27.
*Nice ball rotation at the top of the key, Biega swings it to Cameron, who misses a 3 but Armstrong grabs the rebound and puts it in for a layup. Hopewell 56-27.
*Biega grabs another loose ball and then gets it up to Cameron for the layup. Hopewell 58-27.
*More inside work as Armstrong pulls down another offensive rebound and converts it for 2. Hopewell 60-27.
*Kovell with one of his many assists today, this one to Cameron who drains another 3. Hopewell 63-27.
*The final basket of the day comes courtesy a 3-pointer from Rock.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 68 WESTERN BEAVER 31
Armstrong finished the game as Hopewell’s leading scorer with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Cameron scored 14 points.
