Hopkins’ low-post play powers streaking Springfield

MIDDLETOWN >> Amanda Hopkins had reached double figures in scoring once in Springfield’s first eight games of the season.

The senior forward and co-captain has the potential to cause havoc with her defense and low-post scoring ability.

“We’ve been working hard in practice with our inside-out game,” Hopkins said. “We have been focusing on that a lot and telling our teammates to pass it in the middle. Even if I’m not open, we can get great shots from the outside, too.”

Tuesday night, everything clicked for Hopkins, who matched a season high with 10 points as she helped Springfield to a 42-31 victory over Penncrest.

Hopkins netted six points in the opening quarter by driving to the basket and using a quick post-up move.

“We want to get Amanda involved. She has a great (short-range) jumpshot and she can make those baskets,” Springfield coach Kylynn McNichol said. “She can get to the basket, and she’s been working hard at it in practice. She’s had a great start to her season.”

Hopkins faced off with Penncrest junior forward Grace Harding. As the Lions’ top scorer, alongside sophomore swing player Megan Arndt, Harding is a big target for any forward to try and defend.

Hopkins held her own Tuesday.

“I’m one of the only posts on the team, and I know I have to get better at guarding the inside and everything else,” said Hopkins, who added three rebounds, two assists and a steal.

While Harding paced the Lions with 11 points, Hopkins played a role in limiting her to zero points in the second half.

“It was a great matchup for both of them tonight and I think Amanda did a nice job of defending her,” McNichol said. “We talked about it at halftime that Grace was having a great first half and we asked Amanda to shut her down in the second half.”

Springfield was the frontrunner the entire way. Buoyed by a pair of 3-point field goals from senior Maggie O’Connell, the Cougars (8-1 overall, 4-1 league) sprinted to an 8-0 lead. Harding and Arndt (nine points, four rebounds, one block) helped pull the Lions (7-2, 4-1) within five points midway through the second quarter, but back-to-back 3-pointers from Belle Mastropietro and Erika Biehl extended the Cougars’ lead to 11 points. Springfield opened the third quarter with a 6-0 run and opened a 15-point advantage after three quarters.

“Since their zone was more of a man-zone, and their guards were out further, the lane was wide open early and all of us saw Amanda. That helped us,” said O’Connell, who scored a game-high 12 points to go with three steals and two assists. She was 4-for-9 from beyond the arc. “We definitely thought this was going to be good competition for us, especially since they were undefeated in the Central League. We knew we had to work hard for this win and I think this was a big win for our confidence.”

Springfield passed a pair of big tests over the holidays at the Cardinal O’Hara Christmas Tournament, claiming a blowout win over Gloucester Catholic and an overtime triumph against Episcopal Academy.

Since dropping their Central League opener to defending champions Garnet Valley, the Cougars have reeled off six straight victories and are feeling good about themselves as they begin the second month of their season.

“It definitely helped us as a team because we were facing better competition,” O’Connell said. “Not that the Central League isn’t good competition, but we got to see some teams that were bigger and teams that we haven’t seen before. We ended up coming out with two good wins.”

Mastropietro added six points and a game-high seven rebounds, while Jordan D’Ambrosio added nine points, three rebounds, two steals and a block for the Cougars.

In other Central League action:

Marple Newtown 57, Harriton 50 >> Olivia Young had nine of her 13 points in overtime to lift the Tigers (5-3, 1-3) past the host Rams and Sophie Grady, who scored her 1,000th career point.

Devon Adams dominated the low post with 23 points and 11 rebounds for Marple.

Grady led Harriton with 18 points.

Garnet Valley 62, Haverford 37 >> The Jaguars (8-0) jumped out to a 15-4 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. Emily McAteer scored 14 points and Brianne Borcky added 12. Nicole Barnes and Sydney Fail each tossed in eight points.

Erin Doherty led the Fords (3-7, 1-3) with nine points and four rebounds.

Radnor 51, Strath Haven 31 >> Nicole Massimino finished with 19 points and five steals for the Raiders (5-2, 4-1), who have won five consecutive decisions. Allison Lanzone (15 points) was a rebound shy of a double-double.

Morgan Crain and Margot Hotham paced the Panthers with seven points apiece.

Lower Merion 49, Ridley 47 >> Dana D’Ambrosio poured in 16 points, made three steals and dished two assists for the Green Raiders (4-5, 2-3). Emma Layden netted a career-high nine points and Izzy Hamlin added seven points and six rebounds.

Conestoga 58, Upper Darby 36 >> Emma Blewett scored a team-high 11 points and Natalie Koskinas chipped in eight points and 10 rebounds for the Royals. Gabby Liberio contributed six points and five assists.