It may have taken a half for Hopkins to get going, but once the Royals' engine warmed up. The host boys overcame a 10-point first half deficit to surge past Centennial, 73-62 at the Breakdown Tip Off Classic at Hopkins' Lindbergh Center.

The new-look Royals graduated several key players from last year's state tournament team, including Mr. Basketball Siyani Chambers, so a slow start may have been expected. But paced by Siyani's younger brother, Kamali Chambers, Hopkins certainly grew up fast. Chambers scored a game-high 20 points, while Nick Johnson had 14 and Jake Wright added 12.

Centennial led much of the opening 20 minutes, including a 39-35 halftime edge, but couldn't hold down the Royals' shooters for a full game. Dan Becken led the Cougars with 18 points and Josh DeWitt added 11.

Score by quarter: Hopkins 35-38--73, Centennial 39-23--62

Hopkins: Chambers 20, Johnson 14, Davis 12, Warren 8, Wright 7, Coffey 5, Edwards 3, Martin 2, Stribling 2.

Centennial: Becken 18, DeWitt 11, Thornquist 8, Roddy 5, Malinowski 4, Peterson 2, Grow 2, Walker 1.

In a physical battle to cap the night at the Breakdown Tip Off Classic, Minnetonka muscled past Holy Angels, 72-60 at Hopkins' Lindbergh Center. The Skippers and Stars were deadlocked in a tough defensive battle much of the night.

Riley Dearring paced the Skippers with 16 points, but it was a well-rounded team effort offensively. Mike Fernando (14 points), Bremiah Snyder (12), Careino Gurley (10), Grant Kellogg (8) and Malcom Moore (7) all chipped in. Holy Angels' junior post Charlie Koontz led all scorers with 23 points, while Jordan Dembley (14) and Danny Sullivan (11) also hit double-figures.

Score by quarter: Minnetonka 39-33--72, Holy Angels 33-27--60

Minnetonka: Dearring 16, Fernando 14, Snyder 12, Gurley 10, Kellogg 8, Moore 7, Moes 4.

Holy Angels: Koontz 23, Dembley 14, Sullivan 11, Bowlin 7, Strickland 3, Hoffman 2.