Hopkins Boys' Basketball Routs Knights to Remain Undefeated

Hopkins Royals boys basketball team (4-0) flexed their offensive muscle, beating the Benilde-St. Margaret's Knights (2-1) Saturday afternoon by a score of 99-65. 

Metro standout Joe Coleman led the way with 18 points, four rebounds, and three assists, as the

Hopkins, which had six players score in double-figures, did what it does better than anyone in the state—got up-court and scored.

"We always do," said Hopkins coach Ken Novak Jr., after being asked about the strategy of using such a  fast-paced attack. "We averaged 87 points a game last year."

The defending 4A State Champions started this season in similar form, averaging slightly more with 87.5 points per game.  And against the Knights, Hopkins was too sharp, moving the ball around and finding open Royals.

With just under eight minutes left in the 1st half, Coleman drove the baseline and appeared trapped by a defender before dropping a soft pass to a cutting  Nicholas Jorgensen for an easy score.

"We definitely moved the ball better," Coleman said, as the Royals entered the half up 54-39. "More of us got involved."

But it was the Knights who seemed poised to be the more energetic team coming out of the break, starting the half with a 5-0 run and forcing an early Hopkins timeout.

But that energy was quickly sapped as Hopkins' defensive pressure and athleticism wore the Knights down.

With 11:45 left in the game, junior Demetrius Martin snagged a steal and raced the length of the court for two.  The following possession junior Siyani Chambers joined in with a theft of his own, throwing an assist to Martin for another uncontested lay-up, taking their lead to 75-47.

"Basketball is a game of momentum, and you just got to make sure you recognize where the momentum is going…and take that momentum away," " Novak said.

Despite strong efforts from Benilde's Will Dunn and Isaiah Zierden, scoring 14 and 15 points respectively, Hopkins regained momentum and was able to frustrate Benilde's leading scorer Kyle Washington for much of the night.  

"I thought our rhythm was good, and I thought the kids were in-sync with each other, defensively and offensively, " Novak said.

The Royals came into Saturday's contest after a close 93-89 victory over Lakeville South.  The Royals weren't about to let that happen again. 

"I feel like we played a good team and we were able to come out and execute, and our defense was on point," Coleman said.  "So we came and got a thirty-point win."

Royals'  Marvin Singleton and Zach Stahl were busy throughout the contest, as Singleton led all-scorers with 22 points and Stahl was a force at both ends with 11 points and nine rebounds.

"They kicked our butts in every single way," said Knights coach John Moore.