Even though his team had just dominated Minneapolis South en route to a 30-point win in a Class 4A, Section 6 semifinal game on Saturday, Hopkins coach Ken Novak Jr. said he still wasn’t totally pleased with how the Royals played.

“We started on a 7-0 run, but we kind of let up a little bit. We were just a little groggy. Their style of play is different than we do,” Novak said, sneaking a yawn in after the game. “They spread the court and posted guards up, which you don’t see a lot. We were out of sync, out of rhythm. They were jamming a lot of cutters, so I don’t think we had a lot of player and ball movement. We had breathing room and went on a second run there and popped it up a little bit.”

Novak, possibly the world’s hardest coach to please, eventually conceded that he was ultimately proud of how his team played in the 105-75 victory over the Tigers at Eden Prairie High School, a win that advanced Hopkins to the section championship and a third meeting of the season with Lake Conference nemesis Eden Prairie.

The Eagles are the Royals meet March 4 at Robbinsdale Cooper High School to play for not only the section title but also a berth in the state Class 4A tournament.

Novak even found a way to quote a legendary college basketball coach in discussing the Minneapolis South game. 

“It’s the old Jim Valvano line, ‘Survive and advance,’” Novak said when asked if he would prefer his team play a closer game score-wise in the postseason. “I don’t know if it’s here or there. I think the kids would rather play a tough game... The problem is, I don’t think (Saturday’s game) had a good rhythm to it. Hopefully we can come up and get a little better rhythm and at least give (Eden Prairie) a game.”

Hopkins started the game with Minneapolis South on a 7-0 run, but if you asked Novak, or any of the Royals players for that matter, that’s about the only good thing the No. 6-ranked team in Class 4A did against the upstart Tigers, who defeated Minnetonka 105-104 in the section quarterfinals. 

“We knew they were a good team, they beat Minnetonka,” said Hopkins senior guard John Warren, who had a game-high 28 points. “They played Eden Prairie and Maple Grove close (during the regular season). We had the mindset they were a good, high-paced team. We just started out with low energy, and they hit a lot of shots as well.”

There was just one instance all game where Minneapolis South had the lead over Hopkins -- 19-17 midway through the first half following a three-pointer from senior guard Kyle Lumbar. Hopkins then went on a 25-12 run to end the half, effectively shutting the door on the Tigers. 

With Minneapolis South in the rearview mirror, the Royals can focus their attention on preparing for an Eden Prairie team that split the regular-season series with Hopkins this year. 

Novak had little to say when asked about the championship game and diverted attention to perhaps the catalyst in his team’s win -- sophomore guard Ishmael El-Amin, a reserve player who had 26 points. 

“He played well,” Novak said of El-Amin. “I know he comes off the bench, but in reality he’s a starter. I was very impressed, he’s a very smart player. He missed a few games early in the season, so we didn’t start him. And things went pretty well when he came off the bench, so we left him there. He plays as many minutes as anybody, maybe a little bit more.”

Hopkins opened its Class 4A, Section 6 semifinal game on a 7-0 scoring run, an omen of how Saturday afternoon would unfold for its opponent, Minneapolis South. The second-seeded Royals continued scoring in streaks and advanced to the section championship with a 105-75 win over the sixth-seeded Tigers at Eden Prairie High School.

Hopkins junior guard Xavier Johnson started the game with an easy layup off a drive to the hoop, followed by a 3-pointer from junior guard Vinnie Shahid. Senior forward Graham Hutson tapped in a layup to give the Royals their early lead and all the momentum. 

Minneapolis South (12-16), however, responded and took it’s only lead of game at 19-17 following a deep three-pointer in the corner from senior guard Kyle Lumbar midway through the first half. 

Hopkins (17-6), ranked No. 6 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, tied the game on the next possession, and it was all Royals from there. 

Senior guard John Warren led Hopkins with 28 points. Sophomore guard Ishmael El-Amin had 26 points off the bench for the Royals, while Johnson finished with 15. 

Junior forward Payton Bowdry scored 22 points for the Tigers. Junior forward Michael Harris had 18 points and Lumbar chipped in 17 in the loss.

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