The Hun School is always one of the top teams in Mercer County area. Although the Raiders are losing Doug Davis ’08 (Princeton), Sterling Melville ’08 (Colgate), and Lance Goulbourne ’08 (Vanderbilt), the team will still be strong in 2008-09. Big man Egheosa Edomwonyi (pronounced Ih-go-sa Eh-dom-wahn-ee) ’09, who already has double-digit scholarship offers, will lead the way for the prep school. Hopewell Valley had a rough year last year and is losing some of its top players, so it may well be another tough season for the squad. The game is already underway between the two Garden State schools. I’d like to let you  again in advance that I only have last names for this contest.

8:35pm- Hun has taken a 15-4 lead in under eight minutes of play, and is well in control of the game.

8:37pm- This has the makings of a major blowout. Hun is already leading 18-4, and we’re only 10:31 into the game.

8:40pm- There is just under 8:00 left in the first half, and the Raiders are out in front 18-6.

8:42pm- Aley got a steal at around halfcourt for Hopewell Valley and then got fouled, but the team could not convert the forced turnover into points.

8:43pm- Hun has had its second line in for quite some time now, but the Raiders are still leading 20-6. There is less than four minutes to play in the first half.

8:46pm- Michel hit one of two at the stripe for Hun, so the Raiders lead 21-6 with just over 60 seconds left in the half.

8:48pm- Melville hit a trey for Hun with around 25 seconds left in the half, and that would be the last basket in the first 20 minutes of play. Thus, The Hun School is taking a 24-6 lead into halftime.

8:49pm- Hun’s Griffin leads all scorers with 10 points. Ryan is on top for HoVal with three points.

8:53pm- Edomwonyi just scored back-to-back baskets for Hun, his first points of the game, opening the half’s scoring. He missed the and-one after the second bucket.

8:54pm- Hopewell Valley has taken a timeout with 17:19 left in the game, trailing 28-6.

8:56pm- Edomwonyi, who has displayed nice hustle but not spectacular hands, received a pass down low, made a move and scored in the paint, drawing a foul. Again, though, he was unable to connect on the free throw. He has all of Hun’s points this half, and the Raiders lead 30-6.

8:58pm- With just under 14:20 to go, HoVal has put in its second line, and Edomwonyi has come out for Hun.

9:00pm- We are over seven minutes into the second half, and Hopewell Valley has yet to score. Meanwhile, Edomwonyi still has all of Hun’s points this half.

9:01pm- Hun has scored again, and it was not Edomwonyi this time. The Raiders are well in control of this game, leading 32-6.

9:02pm- It’s been just under 9:30 in the half, and Ahlawalia just scored HoVal’s first points of the half and drew a foul. He did not make the free throw, though.

9:03pm- Laurent scored off an inbounds play for Hun, giving the team a 34-8 lead.

9:04pm- Lee, who is built like a linebacker, played some nice perimeter D for Hun, and then came out at the next whistle for a breather. Hopewell Valley’s top line re-entered the game at the same time.

9:06pm- With 6:00 to go, Hun is leading 36-8.

9:07pm- Michel scored down low and was fouled. He hit the free throw, giving the Raiders a 39-8 lead.

9:10pm- There’s just under 2:00 left, and Hopewell Valley is still trailing 39-8.

9:11pm- Aley just made two shots at the line for HoVal, putting the team into double-digits with about a minute left in the game. Hun then scored at the other end.

9:12pm- The game is over, and Hun is victorious by a score of 41-10.

RJ Griffin ’09 PG, despite not scoring in the second half, was the game’s leading scorer with 10 points, while Aley and Ryan had three each for Hopewell Valley. Miles Melville ‘11, Sterling’s younger brother, is Northstar Basketball’s MVP for Hun, as he played a strong, hard game. Aley takes MVP honors for HoVal.

Edomwonyi told me after the game that he will commit in “November.” He also gave me the first names and classes of Melville and Griffin. Thanks Egheosa!