Hopewell Boys Basketball Battles for 69-60 Win over Ellwood City

HOPEWELL TWP– The Hopewell Boys Basketball team were at home tonight for the first time this 2024-25 season.

Head coach Mark D’Alessandris and his squad came into tonight’s contest with a record of 2-2 and looking to rebound from their last game, a 79-53 loss to Mohawk.

The matchup tonight was against Ellwood City, who like Hopewell, entered with a record of 2-2.

After a back and forth first half, Hopewell took control of the game late in the 2nd quarter and the entire 2nd half. The big keys tonight for Hopewell were the offensive production from senior guard Zach Kovell, the inside production of James Armstrong and some timely 3-point shooting from Brody Rock. The combination of those three things along with solid production from the entire roster paced the way to a 69-60 victory in front of a large crowd at Hopewell High School.

Pacing the way tonight for Kovell with 25 points, Armstrong with 13 points and Rock with 13 points.

Keep in mind, Hopewell is off to a 3-2 start without starting guard Zach Gigliotti, who injured his ankle in the opening game and is still recovering. When he returns, that will give Coach D’Alessandris and scoring option plus veteran leadership.

1ST QUARTER RECAP-
-Kovell scored 25 points, most of which came as a result of his quickness getting to the basket. Although they attempted to double-team him at times, Ellwood City wasn’t able to contain him off the dribble. The first basket of the evening tonight for Hopewell was just a sign of things to come. Kovell got iso’d with his man and drove in for a layup. Ellwood City 3-2.

-Aaron Dickhart with a strong drive, he missed the layup, but Armstrong grabbed the rebound and put it back in for 2 plus was fouled. Ellwood City 7-5.

-Kovell with a floater off the glass in the lane. Ellwood City 9-7.

-Kovell misses a 3-pointer but Rock pulls down the offensive rebound and puts it in for a layup. Ellwood City 11-9.

-The Hopewell guards fed Armstrong in the lane, who connected with a jump hook. Ellwood City 15-11.

-4 seconds left in the quarter, Kovell drove the middle of the lane and dished it out to Rock, who drains a huge 3-pointer.

END OF 1ST QUARTER: Ellwood City 17 Hopewell 15

2ND QUARTER RECAP-
-Freshman guard Tre Cameron misses on a 3-pointer from the corner but once again, Armstrong was there for a rebound and layup. Ellwood City 19-17.

-Kovell did it from the inside and outside, this time, knocks down a 3-pointer from the top of the key. That shot cut the Wolverines lead down to 3.  Ellwood City 23-20.

-Kovell with a pass to Armstrong at the free throw line, who finds Thomas Pipkins in the opposite block with a bounce pass. Pip finishes. Ellwood City 23-22.

-With 2:56 left, Nick Adams connected on 2 FT’s and Hopewell had their first lead of the game and they wouldn’t trail the rest of the way. Hopewell 24-23.

-Off a set in-bounds play, Adams found Kovell in the corner, who drained it. Hopewell 26-23.

-Kovell with a pump fake on the baseline, then drove to the hoop for 2 more. Hopewell 31-25.

HALFTIME: Hopewell 31 Ellwood City 25

3RD QUARTER RECAP-
-Hopewell made an effort to get it inside to start the half and it worked. Kovell found Armstrong, who powered his way up for 2. Hopewell 34-28.

-After a defensive rebound, Armstrong with a long pass down the court to Adams, who missed a layup, but Cameron was there to get the rebound and 2. Hopewell 36-28.

-A huge shot in the game, Armstrong was out with 3 fouls and Ellwood City cut the led down to 5 points, but Rock connected on bank shot, 3-pointer. 43-35.

-Kovell once again uses his quickness to get to the basket for a layup. Hopewell 45-35.

-Next trip down, Kovell gets in the lane and dishes out to Jeremy Benninghoff for a 3-pointer. 48-39.

-Nice Vikings defense results in a steal, then an outlet pass to Dickhart for a layup. Hopewell 50-39.

END OF 3RD QUARTER: Hopewell 50 Ellwood City 39

4TH QUARTER RECAP-
-Nice Hopewell passing as Adams finds Armstrong, who puts 2 off the glass. Hopewell 52-39.

-More Vikings defense, Dickhart with another steal and finds Michael Brown for a layup. Hopewell 54-43.

-With 4:05 left in the game, Biega with a nice quick pass from the top of the key to Rock, who connects on another 3. Hopewell 59-48.

-With 2:50 left, Ellwood City tries to trap Kovell to force a turnover, but he gets pass both defenders and drives for an easy layup. Hopewell 61-51.

-Next trip down, same exact thing, Kovell for 2 more. Hopewell 63-53.

-Next possession, same thing except Kovell passes off to a wide-open Armstrong for a layup. Hopewell 65-56.

FINAL SCORE: Hopewell 69 Ellwood City 60

“WINNING IS FUN’!” Congrats to the Vikings, who will be back at home on Wednesday as they host Lincoln Park. Tipoff is set for 6 PM.