HOPE ACADEMY 78, MOUNDS PARK ACADEMY 39.
Wednesday nights have generally had teams that are non-
traditional, smaller schools and from smaller conferences. That is the case in this Wednesday’s edition with Hope Academy, the first time I have charted the Lions, going to Mounds Park Academy and putting running time on the host Panthers with a 78-39 win. This was the highest point total of the year for HA.
This looked like it might be competitive going into the contest with the QRF giving MPA a 211 rating and HA a 272 rating. The Lions, from the Twin Cities Athletic Conference and who are located in south Minneapolis, entered the night with a 7-1 record with their only loss coming to Madelia. MPA is from the more traditional IMAC conference, home of established private schools. MPA held a 4-4 mark prior to the meeting tonight. Those tables turned quickly once the action started.
HA used full court pressure defense to generate 40 turnovers. The Lions also ruled the boards with a +12 advantage. MPA burned through two time outs after four minutes had elapsed and the visitors up 18-4. The Lions continued their hot hands in the first half with a 56-22 advantage. Technically HA had enough points to win by getting their fortieth point with four minutes left in the first half.
Both teams are young. Only one senior was on the roster for either team. Nine of the 14 HA players are still single digits in school. Five of the nine MPA players are in single digits. Tonight’s trench player is 5-11 eighth grader (2023) Ella Pritchard. Most of her scoring came within five feet of the rim with all nine field goals in that neighborhood. Hannah Irving, a 5-9 junior, knocked down four 3s in the first half giving HA an outside threat. Irving had 18 points on the night. MPA’s Kaija Kunze-Hoeg, a freshman (2022), was the only Panther in double digits with 20 points. She also racked up nine steals and joined Pritchard in the 31 Club.
| HOPE ACADEMY | MOUNDS PARK ACADEMY | |
| POINTS | 78 | 39 |
| REBOUNDS/OFF | 50/27 | 38/16 |
| TURNOVERS | 23 | 40 |
| FTA/% | 5/60.0 | 11/63.63 |
| 2FG%/3FG% | 46.15/25.00 | 33.33/0.0 |
| PP100 | 92.9 | 47.0 |
| TOP SCORER | Ella Pritchard 21 | Kaija Kunze-Hoeg 20 |
TRENCH PLAYER: Ella Pritchard with 21 points, 105.0 pp100 and a 31 Club score of 36