The Hopkins Academy boys basketball team will return to a familiar place, and will face a familiar opponent when it returns to the state Division 4 semifinals on Wednesday.
Maynard, the Central Massachusetts champion, sent the Golden Hawks home in 2016 with a 52-51 win in overtime.
The two teams will get together again for another round at the DCU Center in Worcester for a chance to play for a state title.
The Golden Hawks (21-2) play the Tigers (20-4) at 4 p.m.
“I wouldn’t call it revenge,” Hopkins coach Angelo Thomas said. “But you always want to get a shot at the team that ended your season the year before.”
Hopkins will have to deal with Maynard point guard Corey Olivier.
“He is one of the best players in the state,” Thomas said.
During the preseason, Hopkins scrimmaged Central, which has talented and quick guards. Olivier presents similar challenges to the Golden Hawks.
“He’s quick and tenacious,” Thomas said. “Probably the fastest kid we have seen all year. He’s got the long range game too. He definitely makes them go.”
Sam’i Roe has taken on the challenge of guarding the other team’s top offensive threat all season and that won’t change Wednesday.
“I am looking forward to it,” Roe said. “If we come out and do what we are supposed to do we will win the game.”
Thomas said it won’t be Roe exclusively. Hopkins does a lot of double-teaming, so Olivier could see a lot of Golden Hawks coming his way.
Roe’s offense will need to be efficient as well for Hopkins.
The 3-point shooting of John Earle and Justin Ciaglo will have to be effective to space the floor for Roe, all while giving him passing options on the drive.
Hopkins traveled to Worcester at the end of the regular season to scout potential state tournament opponents at the Clark Tournament, an event for central Mass. teams.
Maynard won the tournament and the Golden Hawks soaked in as much information as they could. More than that, it was a good bonding experience for the Golden Hawks.
“It’s a good thing for the team to get together outside of practice,” Thomas said. “We go to see what type of atmosphere they play in too.”
Maynard has two talented frontcourt players for Hopkins center Jon Morrison to contend with.
Eric Kiley is not very tall for the Tigers, but is strong and can force the action down low with brute force.
“He’s a tough, gritty kid.” Thomas said. “Hurt us on the offensive glass last year.”
Chris Bastien is a longer player who had five blocks in Maynard’s Central Mass. championship game.
“This year we feel more comfortable,” Thomas said. “The team is familiar. We scouted them last year, but you don’t really know a team until you play them.”
