Photo Gallery: Hopkins Girls Hoopsters Sink Southwest

The Hopkins girls basketball team improved to 19-1 on the season with a 90-28 defeat of host Minneapolis Southwest in a non-conference matchup on Monday night.

"I was pleased with the effort tonight and no one was injured," Hopkins coach Brian Cosgriff said.

Thirteen Royals players scored in all, paced by guard TT Starks' 15-point effort as Hopkins took a 12-0 lead before allowing the Lakers their first score of the evening.

The Royals led, 57-19, at halftime and built the lead to nearly 70 points before settling for the 62-point margin of victory as the game ended in running time due to the Minnesota State High School League's "Mercy Rule."

A bigger test awaits Hopkins on Tuesday night as the Royals host Minnetonka in a crucial Lake Conference battle scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m. The Skippers are 16-3 so far this winter and both teams are tied for second place in the Lake with identical 2-1 circuit marks.

"It's a big one," Cosgriff said.