WPIAL
Hopewell 7th Grade Basketball Let One Slip Away to Moon

Hopewell Township-Early on it certainly appeared as though the Hopewell 7th grade basketball team was going to be able to avenge their earlier season loss to Moon.
However, a basketball game is four quarters and credit the Moon Tigers players for continuing to compete despite falling behind big early.
The Vikings led for most of this game but down the stretch, Moon made more plays and played cleaner basketball which allowed them to come away with a 40-33 win.
Although it was in a losing effort, credit to Ryder Kostrick for a fantastic game and being the best player on the court.
1sT Half Recap:
*Hopewell is most efficient when they’re able to get the ball down low in the paint, which is how they scored their first points as Christian Fisher softly banked in a shot from the low blocks, Hopewell 2-0.
*Hopewell ran a nice fake give-no-go between Fisher and Nico Amadio with Fisher keeping the ball and driving in for a layup, Hopewell 4-3.
*Following a defensive rebound, Kostrick keeps it himself and drives in for a layup and is fouled shooting, Ryder goes on to make 1 of 2 from the line, Hopewell 5-3.
*Following that missed free throw from Kostrick, Kaleb Gonzalez grabs the offensive rebound gets a shot up, he misses but Fisher grabs the rebound and puts it in for a layup, Hopewell 7-3.
*Later in the quarter, Connor Reed banks in a 3-point shot, Hopewell leads 10-3.
*With 1:04 left in the quarter, Gonzalez is fouled while shooting and makes 1 of 2 from the line, Hopewell 11-3.
*With seconds left in the quarter, Gonzalez drives the paint and finds Fisher in the opposite block and Christian lays it in for 2 more, Hopewell 13-3.
End of 1st Quarter- Hopewell 13 Moon 3
*Hopewell would only score one basket in the second quarter which comes off a steal from Amadio who passes to Kaein Dowling for the layup, Hopewell 15-3.
Halftime- Hopewell 15 Moon 10
2ND HALF RECAP:
*After Moon gets within one, Hopewell scores courtesy a strong take to the basket by Gonzalez, who is fouled shooting, Kaleb makes 1 of 2, Hopewell 16-14.
*Next trip down, Kostrick drains a 3-pointer from the wing, Hopewell 19-14.
*Later, Kostrick with the steal and goes in for a left-handed layup, Hopewell 21-14.
*More Hopewell defense as Amadio applies the pressure and forces a turnover, Kostrick picks up the loose ball and takes it in for the layup, Hopewell 23-16.
*Transition offense as Kostrick pulls down the defensive rebound and dribbles all the way down and is fouled shooting, Ryder goes 2 of 2 from the line, Hopewell 25-18.
*Kostrick then converts on a great, acrobatic shot in the lane, Hopewell goes up 8 points, 27-19.
*However, from that point, the Vikings would only score 6 points the rest of the game and Moon ends the quarter on a 6-0 run.
End of 3rd Quarter: Hopewell 27 Moon 25
*Hopewell extends the lead to 4 points as Fisher grabs an offensive rebound, passes out to Kostrick who then passes back inside to Dowling for 2 more, Hopewell 29-25.
*Moon would then finish the game on a 14-4 run to earn the victory.
FINAL SCORE: Moon 40 Hopewell 33
The Junior High teams will have 3 games next week as they host Eden Christian Academy, travel to South Fayette and then travel to Avonworth.
