After 24 years and 55 straight losses to Hopkins, Wayzata finally beat the Royals in boys' basketball with a 71-58 upset on the road Friday night.

Johnny Beeninga and seven other seniors on the Trojans' roster made it a mission to end the streak, especially after a narrow 79-78 loss at home on Dec. 11 to the Royals, ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News.

"With it being our senior year, we knew this was our last time coming here (Lindbergh Center) to play them," Beeninga said. "We were just like, 'We gotta go, right now.' "

Beeninga scored a game-high 23 points to pace No. 6-4A Wayzata (14-5, 4-1). The Trojans were stout defensively, holding Hopkins to a season-low 58 points.

A big part of Wayzata's game plan was employing a sagging man-to-man defense designed to limit dribble penetration in the lane, especially against the Royals, and letting Beeninga control the tempo at point guard. 

"(Hopkins) can score so fast, and they usually average in the 100s," Beeninga said. "They want to go in transition, and we knew we had to stop them and get back on 'D' ... pack the paint and stop them from getting to the rim."

Despite the extra focus on solid defense and keeping the Royals from getting out in front, Trojans coach Bryan Schnettler thought his team dominated on the glass.

"(Rebounding)'s been our calling card because we do a very good job with it and it's helped us win a lot of games," Schnettler said.

Friday night's win made it seven straight victories for Wayzata, which stumbled a bit earlier in their schedule with losses to other top teams such as Apple Valley, Champlin Park and, of course, Hopkins.

But a rocky start to the season has turned smooth in the month of January, and Beeninga said the recent success has been a result of a veteran-heavy roster.

"We lost five games earlier this (season), and that was a tough stretch," Beeninga said. "We'd be yelling at each other and getting a little upset we were losing these close games. I think this last month the guys have stepped up, and I think the senior leadership has been great, too."

Anchoring that veteran group is Beeninga, a 6-foot point guard and MSU-Moorhead commit who Schnettler said embodies everything a coach and team wants from the position.

"He's really taken it to another level (this season)," Schnettler said. "Him, along with other guys. We got a lot of guys that make big plays, and the reason we're good is because we do it together."

Both Beeninga and Schnettler said Friday's game against Hopkins had been circled on the schedule for a long time.

Splitting the regular season matchups was a big deal, and Beeninga might be circling another date on the calendar, as the teams could meet again in the Class 4A, Section 6 playoffs in a month. 

For now, the senior will enjoy finally breaking a long skid against their Lake Conference rival.

"There's no better way to (end the streak), especially at their court," Beeninga said. "It's been a goal of mine and our team. To finally beat them, I just can't tell you how good it feels."

Johnny Beeninga scored a game-high 23 points to help Wayzata defeat previously unbeaten Hopkins 71-58 on Friday at Hopkins High School.

The Trojans, ranked No. 6 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, also received 10 points from Jack Sowada as Wayzata recorded its first win over the Royals since 1992, a span of 55 games.

Xavier Johnson scored a team-high 17 points off the bench for No. 1-4A Hopkins while starter Amir Coffey added 15.

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