BASCOM — Facing size and experience on the road, Seneca East coach George Parks knew his team had its work cut out for it.
Hopewell-Loudon used its considerable size advantage to control the post, then found the perimeter shooters. The Chieftains used the combination to build a 40-18 lead after three quarters, then cruised to a 50-34 win, in the season opener for both teams.
Though the result may have been expected, the Lady Tigers gained valuable experience. But the inability to hit perimeter shots early doomed Seneca East’s chances on this night.
“Shooting’s our biggest problem,” Parks said. “That was our struggle last year. We’re working at it and some nights they don’t fall. We’re definitely a better shooting team than we were last year and there will be nights when those shots will fall, and we’ll turn things around.”
The teams spent the first couple of minutes shaking off first-game jitters. The Chieftains also had to solve the Tigers’ 1-2-2 zone.
They went inside out, getting their first two points on a stick-back by post Carley Coffman, then kicked it to the perimeter for a 3-point shot from Anna Daniel to take a 5-1 lead.
“It’s just a matter of being patient,” Hopewell-Loudon coach Steve Suter said. “The strength of our team is inside players. We had the size advantage, so we wanted to make sure we got the ball inside, relocate on the perimeter, knock down some shots, and they did.”
That size advantage did, in fact, set up perimeter scoring as the Chieftains connected on eight 3s, including four from point-guard Sidney Brickner and two more from 2-guard Madison Holcomb.
“We had a one-minute breakdown at the end of the first quarter where we gave up a 7-0 run because one girl here or there was out of position that gave them a wide-open look or we turned the ball over,” Parks said. “The next thing you know, a (2-point) game is a (12-point) game.”
Ten of the points in the run came in the last 1:39 of the first quarter to make the score 14-4 and Hopewell-Loudon completed it on the first possession of the second quarter on a basket by Ariyanna Bishop.
Seneca East hit just three of 16 shots in the second period, though they were able to hang around, trailing 25-13 at halftime. But four-of-22 shooting —including two of 11 from behind the arc — dug the hole.
“We’ve kind of set ourselves on making teams shoot the basketball,” Suter said. “Tonight was a prime example of why that pays off.”
The Chieftains used a 15-5 edge in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. All 15 Hopewell-Loudon points in the frame were by way of the 3-point shot to build a 40-18 lead.
The Tigers never quit, however, winning the fourth quarter, 16-10, to get back within 16 at the end. The visitors got as close as 12 — 43-31 — on a three-point play by Caroline Kagy with 2:35 left in the game. Seneca East forced 10 Chieftains’ turnovers in the period.
“Most of our offense came from our defense because we picked up the tempo a little bit,” Parks said. “Their size compared to ours forced us to the outside. It was a physical game, which didn’t help us. Hats off to Hopewell. They did a great job and hit some big shots.”
“It’s hard to simulate that kind of stuff (full court press) in practice,” Suter said. “So, you hope seeing it once in a game we’ll handle it better the next time we see it.”
Brickner led Hopewell-Loudon with 12 points, Coffman had 11, and Bishop came off the bench to add 10. Coffman had a double double with 10 rebounds.
Alexa Snay topped the Tigers with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Izzy Stockmaster added nine.
“I told the girls at halftime their experience right now is showing a little bit and we’re still young,” Parks said. “We start three sophomores and a freshman. Our time will come. We’ve just got to learn from these types of games, learn from this environment and we’ll be there.”
“Jayvee win and varsity win — it’s a two-win night,” Suter said. “A great way to start the season.”
Hopewell-Loudon won the junior varsity game, 25-21. Araceli Velasquez had a game-high 10 points for the Chieftains. Julia Enders led Seneca East with eight points.
Box score
Seneca East 4 9 5 16 — 34
Hopewell-Loudon 14 11 15 10 — 50
Seneca East (0-1): Shots 12-49; 3-pt. shots 3-20 (Cami Lantz, Alexa Snay, Madi Smith); Free throws 7-18; Rebounds 33 (Alexa Snay 12); Turnovers 14. Scoring: Cami Lantz 1 0 3, Alexa Snay 4 2 11, Madi Smith 1 0 3, Karli Foos 1 0 2, Izzy Stockmaster 3 3 9, Caroline Kagy 2 2 6.
Hopewell-Loudon (1-0): Shots 18-45; 3-pt. 8-23 (Sidney Brickner 4, Madison Holcomb 2, Anna Daniel, Carley Coffman); Free throws 6-16; Rebounds 39 (Carley Coffman 10); Turnovers 19. Scoring: Madison Holcomb 3 1 9, Sidney Brickner 4 0 12, Ariyanna Bishop 4 2 10, Isabelle Beidelschies 1 1 3, Anna Daniel 1 0 3, Laura Cook 1 0 2, Carley Coffman 4 2 11.
JV: Hopewell-Loudon 25-21.