Hopewell Girls Basketball Earn 1st Win of Season w/Gutsy Effort Against Riverside

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP-Winning is never easy and that’s certainly the case when you’re missing your best player.

That’s the situation the Hopewell Girls basketball team faced tonight as they looked to earn their first win of the 2024-25 season.

In their last game against Beaver Falls, leading scorer Caylee Sundy suffered a lower body injury in the 1st quarter and didn’t return to the game.

Tonight in the home opener, Sundy wasn’t able to suit up, so Coach Homziak needed someone to step up to replace her production, as she led Hopewell in scoring last season.

Fortunately, the Lady Vikings received that from returning starters Maya Richburg and Avery Boyd. Plus, solid production from post players Alyssa Spang, Hannah McDowell and freshman Cici Smetana and Addison Blosnick continued their solid play.

A total team effort and in the end, a total team win as the Lady Vikings defeated Riverside, 50-39.

1st Quarter:
-Hopewell played a really solid first two quarters, especially offensively before things slowed down in the second half due to some unforced turnovers and fouls.

*First field goal of the game for Hopewell came from No. 13 Marlee Page, courtesy a nice assist from Richburg. Hopewell passed and moved the ball extremely well in the first half. Hopewell 5-4.

*Another nice assist, this time it was Boyd to Spang, who missed her initial shot but got the offensive rebound and converted a layup. Hopewell 7-4.

*The ball came to Spang in the post, who had a shot but instead dished to Boyd in the corner for a jumper. Riverside 10-9.

*Next trip down, it was Boyd who threw a nice pass over top of the defense down low to Spang, who finished. Riverside 12-11.

*More passing by the Lady Vikings as Boyd with another assist, this time a nice entry pass to No. 24 Hannah McDowell, which game Hopewell the lead. Hopewell 15-14.

*The final basket of the quarter came courtesy Richburg on another nice assist from Boyd. Hopewell 17-14.

END OF 1ST QUARTER: HOPEWELL 17 RIVERSIDE 14

2nd Quarter:
*Boyd opened the scoring showing some nice quickness on the baseline, driving to the basket for two. Hopewell 20-18.

*Riverside attempted to press but Richburg dribbled out of it and took it coast to coast for a layup. Hopewell 22-18.

*Boyd with an entry pass down low to Spang, who misses her first shot and gets the rebound and converts on the second attempt. Hopewell 24-18.

*The Hopewell run continued as Smetana showed her range by knocking down a shot from the top of the key. Hopewell 26-18.

*More Vikings passing, this time it was Smetana, who got into the paint and dished off to Page, who converted. Hopewell 28-18.

*Richburg, once again shows her quickness as she blows by her defender to the hoop for an uncontested layup. Hopewell. 30-20.

*Hopewell did a better job attacking the glass tonight. On this sequence, Addison Blosnick pulls down a rebound and is fouled. Hopewell was in the bonus, so Blosnick went to the lineup and drained both shots. Hopewell 34-24.

*Next possession, Blosnick saw some space in the lane and took it in and was fouled shooting. She went on to make 1 of 2 from the lineup. Hopewell 35-24.

HALFTIME- HOPEWELL 35 RIVERSIDE 24

3rd Quarter:
*Nice set play as the ball gets into the middle to Spang, who hands off to Richburg, who converts in close. Hopewell 37-24.

*The Lady Vikings in transition and Boyd converts a layup. Hopewell 40-26

*The last field of the quarter came on a corner jumper by Smetana. Hopewell 42-28.

END OF 3RD QUARTER: HOPEWELL 42 RIVERSIDE 32

4th Quarter:
*Board work pays off as Smetana grabs an offensive rebound and passes back to Richburg, who connects on a 3-pointer. Hopewell 46-32.

*On an inbounds pass, the inbounder threw a pass over the defense to Blosnick in the paint, who converted off the glass for 2. Hopewell 49-39.

FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 50 RIVERSIDE 39

Hopewell Box Score:
Avery Boyd: 14 points
Maya Richburg: 12 points
Alyssa Spang: 7 points
Cici Smetana: 6 points
Addison Blosnick: 5 points
Marlee Page: 4 points
Hannah McDowell: 2 points

The Lady Vikings have the weekend off before returning to the court on Monday when they travel to Ellwood City.