Improving Hawks hold off Newport

It was about this same time last season that the Hopkinton girls basketball team began gift-wrapping victories under the opposition’s tree, struggling to hold early leads and cracking under late-game pressure while suffering through early-season growing pains.
The holidays may once again be right around the corner, but Tuesday’s 40-34 win over Newport proved the Hawks are in a decidedly less giving mood this winter.
A more experienced and savvy Hopkinton team provided the first visual evidence that this season will be different, racing to a 16-1 lead and, more importantly, holding off a furious Tiger rally down the stretch by pulling the ball out and forcing Newport to chase.
The Hawks earned their first win of the year, improving to 1-1.
“They came back, but they never really had us on the ropes. The girls hung in there, and that’s their maturity starting to show,” Hopkinton coach Dave Hughes said. “Last year we give that game away. But this year we pull it out because when we’re in the lead we make them come at us.”
Still, the flashbacks to last winter were coming fast and furious. Hopkinton struggled to solve Newport’s man-to-man attack in the second period, opening the door for the comeback effort, and let the Tigers get as close as four in the closing minutes. What’s more, senior star Lily Smith – who missed most of last season with an ankle injury – limped gingerly off the floor in the second half with a cramp in her calf.
Her absence was short-lived, though, and her return energized the Hawks, who forced Newport to chase and foul down the stretch and held on for the win.
Smith was her usual dominant self, as she posted eight of Hopkinton’s 16 points during the first-period blitz en route to 14 points on the night. She also outdueled Newport star Samantha Hemingway all evening, as Hemingway managed the Tigers’ lone point in the opening stanza and never settled into a rhythm.
Hopkinton found its rhythm early against Newport’s 2-3 zone before struggling against the man-to-man defense in the second period. By that time, though, the Hawks were in control, as Hughes saw his troops build a 10-0 advantage before Hemingway’s free throw. The Hawks switched to half-court pressure to close out the period on a 6-0 run.
Kaley Cook added eight points and Melissa Baron chipped in with four. Baron’s presence was more important than her stat line, though, as she picked up three quick fouls and went to the bench, which is when Newport start its rally. Her return helped settle things down for the Hawks.
“They didn’t panic,” Hughes said. “They were so hungry to play, so excited, I was happy for them. They are the ones working their butts off.”