HADLEY — The Hopkins Academy girls basketball team’s bench was filled with anticipation as the closing seconds ticked off the clock in its second-round matchup with No. 6 McCann Tech, Friday.
When the final buzzer sounded, the third-seeded Golden Hawks celebrated a 64-33 victory. They charged the court, jumping, hugging and smiling as Hopkins advanced to the Western Massachusetts Division 4 semifinal at UMass’ Curry Hicks Cage.
In the first couple minutes of action both teams were scoreless. That was until senior Samantha Jenks got things going for the Golden Hawks, scoring the first 13 of Hopkins’ 15 points in the first quarter.
Jenks went on to score 24 of her 29 points in the first half, effectively giving the Golden Hawks a cushion heading into halftime.
“Her skillset is one thing, but just her leadership for this team has been tremendous,” Hopkins coach Mike Prattico said. “She knew coming into the night that some of the girls were just trying to get their feet wet in the tournament and she took charge early. When she got going I think it settled the whole team in.”
Coming off two straight seasons with first round postseason exits, this Hopkins team made it its goal to earn a chance to at least play in the semifinals.
“The girls program hasn’t made it to The Cage in the past couple of years. We haven’t really made it that far in the tournament,” junior Allison Kowal-Safron said. “It’s for sure been the ultimate goal, especially for our seniors.”
Jenks knew what was at stake and didn’t want to leave anything to chance, especially after fellow senior AJ Mitchell got in foul trouble in the opening minutes.
“I knew I had to come out strong,” Jenks said. “This could be my last game, it was my last home game, like I gotta leave it all on the floor.”
In addition to Jenks, Kowal-Safron served as the secondary option in the first half with five of her seven points. Thea Hanscom added 12 points and Sara Beauchamp scored 10 in the Golden Hawks’ 31-point victory.
Hopkins has won 10 of its last 12 games.
“We’ve got a lot of momentum going for us,” Kowal-Safron said. “We know what we’re capable of and we know our ultimate goal is a Western Mass. title.”
The Golden Hawks (16-6) will play No. 2 Ware (18-4) on Monday at 5 p.m. Ware beat No. 10 Lenox, 35-33, to advance.
In their one matchup this season, the Golden Hawks came away with a 23-point victory in Hadley.
“It’s unreal,” Jenks said. “The fact that Western Mass. could be ours this year and our dreams may come true.”
Hopkins Academy 64, McCann Tech 33
McCann Tech (13-9)
LaCasse 3-3-10, Towler 3-2-11, Tatro 5-0-12. Totals 11-5-33.
Hopkins Academy (16-6)
Elson 0-0-0, Earle 0-0-0, Dyjach 0-0-0, Hanscom 5-1-12, C. Kowal-Safron 0-0-0, A. Kowal-Safron 3-0-7, Palmisano 0-2-2, Jenks 10-4-29, Mitchell 2-0-4, Beauchamp 4-1-10, Boisvert 0-0-0. Totals 24-8-64
|
McCann |
10 |
6 |
12 |
5 |
—33 |
|
Hopkins |
15 |
19 |
16 |
14 |
—64 |
3-Pointers—McCann Tech 6 (Towler 3, Tatro 2, LaCasse), Hopkins Academy 8 (Jenks 5, Hanscom, A. Kowal-Safron, Beauchamp)