Hopewell Township- The Hopewell 7th and 8th grade boys’ basketball teams returned to action this afternoon as they hosted a very solid Avonworth program.
For the Vikings it looked like a first game back as they were a step slow defensively and took until the second half to get their usually potent offense going. When you play a team like Avonworth, you need to bring it all four quarters to win, as a result, Hopewell came up short, 50-41.
Credit to Avonworth as they were one of the best interior passing teams that Hopewell played all season and their point guard, No. 12, was extremely skilled.
1st Quarter Recap:
-Hopewell did a nice job early handling Avonworth’s full-court pressure. On the first Hopewell field goal of the game, Ryder Kostrick who with an assist to Kaleb Gonzalez for 2, 2-2.
-Same thing for the second basket except Kostrick kept it himself and tied the game up, 4-4.
-Gonzalez, who normally is rugged in the paint, this time shows some finesse with a floater in the lane, Hopewell 6-5.
-More Gonzalez as point guard Nico Amadio gets inside and dishes off to Kaleb for 2, Avonworth 15-8.
-Amadio with another nice pass to Gonzalez, who went strong at an Avonworth defender and finished, Avonworth 15-10.
End of 1st Quarter: Avonworth 19-10
2nd Quarter Recap:
-Big man Christian Fisher with the first Hopewell basket of the 2nd quarter as he pulls off a nice spin move in the paint, Avonworth 25-12.
-Later, Fisher with the steal, fires an outlet pass to Gonzalez, who goes to the hoop strong for a layup, Avonworth 25-14.
-With 21 seconds until halftime, Gonzalez again as he connects on a shot in the paint and is fouled, Avonworth 27-16.
Halftime: Avonworth 27 Hopewell 16
3rd Quarter Recap:
-Hopewell had a strong offensive 3rd quarter. Things got started as Fisher shows quickness to grab another steal, gets it to Connor Reed, who passes to Gonzalez for 2, Avonworth 29-18.
-More defense, this time it’s Amadio grabbing the loose ball and then with an assist to Kostrick for 2, Avonworth 29-20.
-Yet another steal, as Kostrick gets the theft and then makes a ridiculous up and under, no doubt the prettiest basket of the day, Hopewell cuts the lead to seven, Avonworth 29-22.
-Unfortunately, seven is as close as they’d get as Avonworth responded with hoops of their own.
-Later, the Vikings break the press and Kostrick finds Gonzalez underneath, Avonworth 31-24.
-Later in the quarter, Kostrick misses but Fisher is there to get the rebound and putback, Avonworth 35-26.
-Then with 6 seconds left in the quarter, Vin Smetana hits a mid-range jumper, Avonworth 39-28.
End of 3rd Quarter: Avonworth 39 Hopewell 28
4th Quarter Recap:
-Enzo Leopardi got some time in the 4th quarter and made things happen. On this play, he showed some skill with a nice up-and-under in the paint, Avonworth 43-30.
-Later, Noah Honess, showing off his big arm, with a long pass to Smetana, who converts the layup, Avonworth 43-32.
-Leopardi pulls down the offensive rebound, passes out to Honess who connects on a shot from the wing, Avonworth 45-34.
-Later, Fisher with a strong left-handed take cuts the lead to ten, Avonworth 46-36.
-Hopewell gets it to eight as Gonzalez comes up with the steal and layup, Avonworth 46-38.
-With 35 seconds left, Kostrick connects on a 3-pointer from the corner, Avonworth 49-41.
FINAL SCORE: Avonworth 50 Hopewell 41
This team will no doubt rebound from this. Next up is a game at home on Thursday against Quaker Valley.
