After surrendering a substantial lead late in the Centennial Conference semi-final game this past Friday, the Blue Jays saw their championship dreams dashed by the Dickinson Red Devils, 73-64.
In the wake of a highly successful season, going 12-6 in the Centennial Conference and 15-10 overall, the third seeded, Hopkins men’s basketball team found themselves one game from the title, pitted against the number two seeded Red Devils.
Playing at host F & M’s home court, the Blue Jays executed at a high level in the first half, controlling the play from the start. At halftime, Hopkins found themselves atop on the scoreboard, 38-32.
Hopkins continued their hot-shooting into the second half, and at one point stretched the lead to 11. However, the Red Devils responded with some deadly shooting of their own, going on a 15-2 run, and taking a two point lead over Hopkins late in the second half.
“Come play-off time, everybody takes their game to the next level,” standout sophomore George Bugarinovic said. “Every possession is a battle.
Sophomore Jimmy Hammer has been the Jays’ best player all year and once he felt the Hopkins lead slipping away, he drained back-to-back-to-back three pointers on three straight possessions to give his team back the lead 58-53, with six minutes left.
“I think we were able to score the ball well and it should have been enough to win, but we also gave up too many points,” Hammer would say after the game. “They were hard to stop and I think we could have played better defense.”
Hopkins’ defense, often their Achilles heel throughout the regular season, would remain their downfall. “They got all the momentum late in the game and I think that was due to the fact that they scored on almost every possession,” Hammer said. “They were very confident then and hard to stop.”
In the final five minutes of the game the Red Devils would outscore Hopkins 18-4 to earn their second trip in three years to the Centennial Conference finals. Dickinson junior, 6-5 Tucker Landy, hit a clutch triple late in the game to virtually seal Hopkins’ elimination.
“The game was obviously very disappointing,” Bugarinovic acknowledge after the game. “We were in control for most of the game, even up by double digits with about 6-7 minutes left. Dickinson was able to hang around and make some big plays down the stretch to pull away for the victory. They hit some huge, timely threes.”
After defeating Hopkins, Dickinson would go on to beat Franklin and Marshall to capture the Centennial Conference crown.
Witnessing the Red Devils go on to win the conference only further demonstrates how close they the Jays came in 2013.
“Seeing Dickinson go on to win the championship game the next day lets us know that could have been us, without a doubt,” Bugarinovic said. “That just motivates us for next season. Our goal of winning the conference title is clearer than ever before. We'll be back for it.”
Hopkins is now faced with the task of turning the page and looking forward to the 2014 season. Although they are loosing some key locker room leaders, the core of their offensive talent remains intact.
“I think we have a very good shot at a title next year since we return most players,” Hammer acknowledged.
“It definitely will be harder since we lose some great seniors in Mike Rhoads, Adam Spengler and Alex Pandrangi. They were true leaders and made our team what it was with their leadership and poise. Dickinson, Muhlenberg and Franklin and Marshall will also be very good again, so we have to get better in order to win the title.”
