HOPKINS HEAD BOYS’ BASKETBALL COACH KEN NOVAK JR. WINS HIS 900TH CAREER BASKETBALL GAME

On Tuesday Feb. 2, 2021 Hopkins head boys’ basketball coach Ken Novak Jr. won his 900th career basketball game with a 59-54 overtime victory over Chaska.

Novak is currently in his 39th season of coaching high school basketball.

MINNETONKA TRAVELED TO HOPKINS FOR A BOYS' BASKETBALL GAME

The Minnetonka boys' basketball team traveled to Hopkins for a boys' basketball game. Minnetonka had a record of 14-4 going into the game while Hopkins had a record of 17-1.

Minnetonka started the game in man-to-man defense. They didn't want want to give up early shots.

Hopkins looked to push the ball down the court and score quick baskets in transition.

Minnetonka got the ball into the hands of Latrell Diquan Love. Love was all over on the court. On the offensive end he looked to score baskets and on the defensive end he wanted to slow his opponent down.

Minnetonka switched up between man-to-man and zone defense. They wanted to confuse Hopkins.

Hopkins guard Siyani Chambers did a good job of pushing the ball down the floor and getting his teammates the ball where they knew they could shoot it.

Minnetonka called a timeout with 11:30 left in the first half the score was Hopkins 19 and Minnetonka 5.

Jamal Dale Davis for Hopkins went to the basket hard. He looked to get fouled when he went to the basket. If he didn't think that he had a good shot he would pass it to his teammates who would look to shoot it.

Minnetonka's Riley Taylor Dearring took the ball hard to the basket. He was able to make some easy baskets. Dearring also was able to step up and knock down free throws when he was fouled.

Andre Travaris McDonald came into the game late in the first half. McDonald gave Hopkins an emotional lift on the court. McDonald who is going to the University of Minnesota on a football scholarship plays with a lot of emotion and passion.

Dearring backed his man down in the low block and looked to put up baskets from there. He had to make his defenders work for them to get the ball from him.

At halftime the score was Hopkins 41 Minnetonka 31.

Hopkins moved the ball well around the three-point line. They looked to get the ball into the hands of Stahl. Stahl got his shot going and was on fire.

Dearring continued to shoot well in the second half.

Hopkins went on a run midway through the second half. Minnetonka had trouble shooting for a period of time.

Jorgenson got a technical foul for slapping the backboard.

Minnetonka stuck around in the second half. They didn't back down from the pressure that Hopkins applied.

Minnetonka took a timeout with 6:41 left in regulation. The score was Hopkins 71 Minnetonka 58.

Chambers was all over the court in the second half. He stepped up big by knocking down some deep three-point shots for Hopkins.

Despite a late offensive serge by Minnetonka, Hopkins came away with the 94-76 victory over Minnetonka.

The leading scorers for Minnetonka were Riley Dearring with 20 points and Tommy McDermott with 22 points.

The leading scorers for Hopkins were Zach Stahl with 11 points, Demetrius Martin with 15 points, and Siyani Chambers with 25 points.

I was joined by the Twin Cities Hoops Czar. Check out his thoughts of the Minnetonka vs. Hopkins boys' basketball game.

HOPKINS BOYS’ BASKETBALL COACH KEN NOVAK JR HAS BEEN NAMED ESPN RISE BOYS’ BASKETBALL NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR

ESPN Rise a national sports publication has announced that Hopkins boys’ basketball coach Ken
Novak Jr. has won the National Coach of the Year Award.

Hopkins has won the last three Class AAAA Minnesota boys’ basketball state titles.

HOPKINS TOOK ON EDEN PRAIRIE IN THE CLASS AAAA BOYS’ BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

The Hopkins Royals took on the Eden Prairie Eagles in the class AAAA boys' basketball championship game.
 

The game got off to a slow start. Neither team was able to hit shots that they put up.
 

Hopkins Joe Coleman who will be going to the University of Minnesota picked up two fouls in the first four minutes of the game.
 

Eden Prairie’s Dylan Stewart picked up his second foul early in the game.
 

Marvin Singleton got nice easy shots. His teammates did a good job of getting him the ball.
 

With 10:25 left in the first half the score was Hopkins 10 and Eden Prairie 8.
 

Eden Prairie's Grant Soderberg was able to drain a few deep three-point shots to keep his team in the
game.
 

Hopkins Andre Travaris McDonald dove on the ground after loose balls.
 

With 6:13 left in the first half the score was tied at 19.
 

Joe Coleman came down and had a nasty two handed slam dunk. He was all over the court.
 

With 3:30 left in the first half the score was Hopkins 25 and Eden Prairie 23.
 

Chambers was able to knock down a few quick three-point shots. That kept Hopkins in the ball game.
 

At halftime the score was Hopkins 32 and Eden Prairie 28.
 

As the second half got underway Eden Prairie continued to push the ball down the court. They didn't
want to get into a running match with Hopkins. They looked to control the tempo.
 

Hopkins continued to make shots late in the game.
 

Eden Prairie continued to play strong defense throughout the half.
 

With 6:28 left in regulation the score was Hopkins 52 and Eden Prairie 44.
 

Eden Prairie didn't back down. They continued shoot shots and they tried to make a late game
comeback.
 

With 3:55 left in regulation the score was Hopkins 54 and Eden Prairie 46.
 

Hopkins came way with the 62-54 victory over Eden Prairie.
 

That victory that made it their third straight state championship.
 

After the game I was able to talk to Hopkins’ players Joe Coleman, Marvin Singleton, Zach Stahl, and
Siyani Chambers and head coach Ken Novak Jr. about winning the class AAAA championship.