Girls & Boys Hoops Sweep Hopkins

2/4/2016

The Beckerman Athletic Center was truly buzzing on Tuesday evening, as the girls and then the boys teams defeated Hopkins in two drama filled games.
The girls have held a decided advantage over the Hilltoppers in the recent years. However, they knew they were facing a much improved program, and the game promised to be an intense struggle. The Hornets challenged Hopkins with their combination of up tempo offense and high pressure defense. The Hilltoppers were able to withstand the early pressure and gradually pulled ahead by seven in the first half as the Hornet point guards, Kai Clemons and Alyssa Vine, got into early foul trouble and watched from the bench while the team committed a string of turnovers. The Hornets scratched their way back to only trail 30-28 at halftime.

The second half proved to be another story. The Hornets stung the Hilltoppers with a 14-1 run, virtually shutting out the opposition for 11 minutes. Hopkins battled down the stretch and kept it close. They repeatedly sent the Hornets to the foul line, which has been an achilles heel for the relatively young team this season. At first this worked and the lead dwindled alarmingly as Hopkins shot well from the foul line. However senior captain Rachel Menze iced the game with clutch 5-6 shooting from the line herself, giving the girls a well deserved 50-43 victory. Menze led all scorers with 20. Naomi Van Nes added 9 points, 11 rebounds, and a number of blocked shots. Shannon Rhone added 8, Clemons had 6, and Cassi Smith 5.

The boys game was just as intense and included last second drama before the Hornets emerged with a 66-63 overtime victory. The boys came out eager to avenge their loss at Hopkins last Friday, and they sensed that this was their night to get back in the win column against their crosstown rivals after a number of years at the bottom of the Fairchester League. The teams traded baskets throughout the first half, with the Hornets clinging to a 28-27 lead at the break. Like the earlier game, the boys gained the upper hand in the second frame and edged out to what some might have felt was a comfortable 9 point lead. But in a rivalry that has been recognized by the New Haven Register as one of the very best in the city over the last two decades, everyone knows the ability of each team to mount thrilling comebacks. The Hilltoppers made their move down the stretch and whittled down the Hornet lead. And as time expired, Charlie Zane glanced an improbable shot from the baseline off the glass for a 3 pointer to tie the game at 56-56.
Though the Hop jumped out to a 61-59 lead, the Hornets responded, first with a tying basket by senior Michael DiMartino; and then, again like the girls' game, they won it at the foul line. TJ Rountree hit 5 clutch free throws, and then cemented the win with a steal on Hopkins' final attempt to go up court. Rountree and DiMartino both finished with 15 points apiece, while Andrew Rice threw in 16. Kyle Williams added 9 and Kyle Smith had 4.

With the wins, the girls improved to 8-6, while the boys are now in second place in the FAA with an 11-5 record. Congratulations to both programs and thanks to all the terrific fans who packed the BAC.

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