ROBBINSDALE ARMSTRONG WENT UP AGAINST HOPKINS IN A SECTION SEMIFINAL BOYS’ BASKETBALL GAME

On March 9, Robbinsdale Armstrong and Hopkins went up together in the Section 6 Class 4A semifinal boys’ basketball game.

Armstrong pushed the ball down the floor and swung the ball around the 3-point line, on the offensive end.

Hopkins also pushed the ball down the floor as they looked to make mid-range jump shots and layups.

There were multiple ties and lead changes early in the first half. Neither team went on a huge run.

Armstrong called a timeout with 10:31 left in the first half. The score was Armstrong 17, Hopkins 16.

Armstrong went into a zone defense as they wanted to make Hopkins take deep 3-point shots.

Armstrong got everyone involved in the offense. They passed the ball around to each other on the offensive end and they were also very talkative on both ends of the floor.

Hopkins guard Zeke Nnaji was all over the floor. On the offensive end he wasn’t afraid to take the ball hard to the basket as he came up with mid-range jump shots and layups. On the defensive end he was able to slow down the guy he was guarding.

At halftime, the score was Hopkins 29, Armstrong 25.

As the second half got underway Armstrong came out on fire as they stepped up and knocked down deep 3-point shots.

Hopkins called a timeout with 14:29 left in regulation. The score was Armstrong 32, Hopkins 29.

Armstrong’s Jake Breitbach came up with mid-range jump shots and layups. His teammates were able to get him the ball in spots where he could shoot it.

Armstrong called a timeout with 11:52 left in regulation. The score was Hopkins 39, Armstrong 36.

Hopkins Blaise Beauchamp came up with steals and turned them into layups on the offensive end.

Hopkins stepped up their defensive pressure and Armstrong struggled to shoot the ball for a period in the second half.

Armstrong called a timeout with 8:12 left to go in regulation. The score was Hopkins 48, Armstrong 38.

Armstrong looked tied in the second half. They ere not able to get to the ball or come up with plays late in regulation.

Hopkins got their shot to drop late in the second half. Both teams played well throughout the game. Hopkins came away with the 66-51 victory over Armstrong.

The leading scorer for Armstrong was Jake Breitbach with 15 points.

The leading scorers for Hopkins were Headstrom with 16 points, Beauchamp with 13 points and Nnaji with 12 points.

I was joined by Sam Bernard Williams of Big Sam’s Podcast. Williams thought, “Armstrong ran out of gas midway through the second half. You must play a complete came to beat a team like Hopkins. Armstrong couldn’t hit a 3-point shot.”