Hopewell Basketball
Hopewell Lady Vikings Fall to Blackhawk Cougars in Mental Health Awareness Game
Hopewell Lady Vikings Fall to Blackhawk Cougars in Mental Health Awareness Game – Emma Majewicz Reporting
Hopewell, PA – The Hopewell Lady Vikings’ basketball team battled hard last night, but ultimately fell short to the Blackhawk Cougars in a tough matchup that ended with a 24-41 scoreline. Despite the loss, the Vikings are maintaining a strong outlook as they continue to push for a better record. The defeat brings their overall record to 5-8 and keeps them in 4th place with a 3-3 conference standing.
Tuesday’s thrilling victory over Hampton had given the team hope, but the Cougars proved to be a formidable opponent on Thursday evening. The game was also a special occasion—designated as a charity night in support of Mental Health Awareness, with proceeds benefiting Nicolina’s Wishes, a local initiative dedicated to supporting mental health efforts in Beaver County. The community, still healing from recent struggles, came together to show their support.
Key Performances:
While the entire team displayed impressive effort throughout the game, three players stood out with notable performances: junior shooting guards and point guards Allison Ramaley and Maya Richburg, as well as junior small forward and point guard Caylee Sundy. Their resilience and determination were evident, even as the Vikings struggled to close the gap.
Game Highlights:
Q1: 6-10 Cougars
The game got off to a competitive start with the Cougars grabbing an early lead. Sophomore Avery Boyd got Hopewell on the board with a three-pointer, followed by a lay-up from freshman Addison Blosnick. Richburg’s foul shot kept the Vikings within striking distance at 6-8.
Q2: 8-22 Cougars
The Cougars stretched their lead in the second quarter, but Hopewell continued to fight back. Allison Ramaley contributed a lay-up to keep the team within reach, bringing the score to 8-14.
Q3: 18-33 Cougars
In the third quarter, Hopewell’s offense showed signs of life. Richburg hit a lay-up, and Caylee Sundy knocked down a three-pointer to bring the score to 13-27. A turnover by Blackhawk allowed the Vikings to capitalize with a chance to narrow the gap, but the Cougars maintained their advantage heading into the final quarter.
Q4: 24-41 Cougars
Despite strong efforts in the final quarter, including a steal and lay-up by Richburg, Hopewell was unable to close the gap. Both Richburg and Sundy hit foul shots to bring the score to 22-39, but it was ultimately too little, too late, as the Cougars held on for a 41-24 win.
Looking Ahead:
The Vikings now turn their attention to the road ahead, where they have a string of games that will offer opportunities to climb the conference standings. Their next two away games are at Beaver on January 27th and at Ambridge on January 30th. After that, they will return home to face Lincoln Park on February 4th and Central Valley on February 6th.
Here’s a look at the results from the previous matchups against these teams:
•1/3/25 vs. Beaver – L 34-59
•1/7/25 vs. Ambridge – W 53-8
•1/13/25 @ Central Valley – L 40-55
•1/17/25 @ Lincoln Park – W 42-14
While the loss to Blackhawk was a tough one, the Lady Vikings remain focused on their goals for the remainder of the season, with plenty of chances to improve their standing and make a push toward the playoffs.