Quantcast
skip navigation

Hopkins narrowly escapes Minneapolis North in home contest

By Trevor Squire, SportsEngine, 02/28/17, 7:15AM CST

Share

Simon Wright's team-leading 27 points helped the Royals beat the Polars 95-92.


Hopkins 6-foot-8 sophomore center Zeke Nnaji drives the lane and is fouled by a Minneapolis North defender in action at Hopkins Lindberg Center on Feb. 28. Photo by Brian W Nelson, SportsEngine

In a repeat of last year’s high scoring thriller, the Royals held on for a 95-92 victory over Minneapolis North Tuesday night at the Lindbergh Center in Hopkins.

Simon Wright posted a team-high 27 points, while a trio of timely threes from Darryl Mayfield helped the Royals, ranked sixth in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, pull away late and focus its efforts on the defensive end.

Mayfield didn’t play in the first half when Wright sank 22 of his points, but Mayfield made his name known on his final three that put Hopkins (20-5, 5-2) ahead by nine with a minute, 30 seconds remaining in the game.

“I stay ready,” Mayfield said regarding coming off the bench. “[Wright] made me want to come in the game and pick up that energy.”

Both teams exchanged the lead eight times in the first half before the Royals went on a 10-0 run fueled by a pair of threes from Wright and freshman Blaise Beauchamp, a layup by Anthony Davis and two free throws from Ishmael El-Amin.

Wright got into foul trouble in the second half which led to El-Amin, a Ball State commit, helping Hopkins maintain its lead in the second half by finishing with 15 points, 11 assists and zero turnovers in a fast-pace game marred by defensive breakdowns.

“Playing North--it's going to be a wild game--and I think we got caught up in that,” Royals coach Ken Novak said. “I thought Ish [El-Amin] was phenomenal."

Western Illinois commit Isaac Johnson and Odell Wilson IV carried the No. 1-1A Polars (24-2, 14-0) with 33 and 30 points, respectively, and combined for eight points in the final two minutes of play.

Tayler Johnson knocked down a three with 20.2 seconds to bring Minneapolis North within three. Wilson gathered a rebound off a missed free-throw by Wright and passed to Johnson who couldn't sink a buzzer beater to send the game into overtime.

Hopkins takes its eight game winning streak on the road to Minnetonka (11-13, 2-5) on Friday where the Royals will play for a share of the Lake Conference title.

Photo Gallery


First Report

Simon Wright's team-leading 27 points and a trio of timely threes from Darryl Mayfield in the second half helped the Royals hold onto a 95-92 win over Minneapolis North Tuesday night at the Lindbergh Center in Hopkins.

Ranked sixth in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, the Royals (20-5) extended their winning streak to eight games by locking down on defense in the waning minutes of the game.

Wright carried Hopkins in the first half, scoring 15 of its first 17 points and finished the half with 22.

Isaac Johnson and Odell Wilson IV carried the No. 1-1A Polars with 33 and 30 points, respectively.

Wilson gathered a rebound off a missed free-throw by Wright and passed to Johnson who couldn't sink a buzzer beater to send the game into overtime.

Ishmael El-Amin tallied 15 points and 11 assists for Hopkins.


Most Popular

Spotlight Game Coverage