Hopewell 7th Grade Hoops Bounces Back, Defeats Quaker Valley, 45-18

Hopewell Township– Following Christmas break, the second half of the junior high basketball season started on Tuesday for the Hopewell Junior High basketball teams.

In that game, it took looked like they hadn’t played for a couple of weeks as it took a couple of quarters to find a rhythm and by that time it was too late against a good Avonworth team.

The Vikings returned to the court today as they hosted Quaker Valley, and they look more like the team that we’ve become accustomed to seeing this season. Aside from a sluggish and turnover filled 2nd quarter, Coach Johnson’s team played exceptional in a 45-18 win over the Quakers.

The big difference in today’s game was the presence of Christian Fisher and the athletic ability of Ryder Kostrick.

1st Quarter Recap:
-The Vikings got on the board first as Fisher grabbed an offensive rebound from a missed shot from Connor Reed and put it in for a layup, Hopewell 2-0.

-Fisher goes up strong for a shot and is fouled shooting. He would go on to make both free throws, Hopewell 4-0.

-Hopewell gets in transition and Nico Amadio unselfishly dishes off to Fisher for a layup, Hopewell 6-2.

-Reed drives to the hoop, Fisher picks up a loose ball in the paint and puts it back for 2, Hopewell 8-2.

-Nice set play for Hopewell as they run a perfectly executed give-n-go, between Fisher, who hands off to Amadio, Hopewell 10-4.

-Kostrick with a missed shot on a drive to the hoop but Enzo Leopardi gets the offensive rebound and converts the layup, Hopewell 12-4.

-Right before the end of the 1st quarter, Hopewell comes up with a steal and right as the buzzer goes off, Reed converts a deep 3-pointer.

End of 1st Quarter- Hopewell 15 Quaker Valley 4

2nd Quarter Recap:
-A lot of turnovers this quarter along with some forced shot.

-The only field goal for Hopewell came on a steal from Dylan Ankrom with 45 seconds left in the half and Ankrom took it in for a layup.

Halftime- Hopewell 17 Quaker Valley 10

3rd Quarter Recap:
-Once again, Fisher got things going for Hopewell as he took a nice pass from Kaleb Gonzalez and put it in for 2, Hopewell 19-10.

-Defense from the Vikings as Amadio comes up with the steal, who dishes it off to Kostrick who made a beautiful reverse layup, Hopewell 21-10.

-More Amadio as he gets in the paint and dishes off to Fisher for a layup, Hopewell 23-11.

-Another Hopewell steal as Kostrick gets the theft dribbles to the other end, makes a nice jump stop in the lane, makes the shot and is fouled, Hopewell 26-13.

-Right after that basket, the Hopewell press forces a turnover as Amadio gets the steal and layup, Hopewell 28-13.

-Reed gets aggressive and drives to the basket and is fouled shooting, Connor then makes both of his free throws, Hopewell 30-13.

-The final basket comes on an offensive rebound putback from Fisher.

End of 3rd Quarter- Hopewell 32 Quaker Valley 13

4th Quarter Recap:
-Kostrick drives the lane, misses in the paint but once again, Fisher is there to clean things up for a layup, Hopewell 35-15.

-A couple possessions later, Kostrick makes an acrobatic layup and is fouled, Hopewell 39-15.

-On that previous play, Kostrick misses the free throw but gets his own rebound and converts a layup, Hopewell 41-15.

-The last basket of the game comes as David Johnson attempts a shot, and Fisher gets the offensive rebound and puts back in for two.

Final Score- Hopewell 45 Quaker Valley 18

The Vikings have the weekend off before returning to action next Tuesday with a trip to West Allegheny.