Boys Basketball: In Romp of Dover, Hopatcong's Guard Shows He's a Scoring Threat

Hunter Guard toed the three-point arc and hoisted a jumper over Errick Williams' head, backpeadling slightly upcourt before the ball swished through the hoop early in the second quarter.

It was one of many shots to fall for Hopatcong's junior forward in the Chiefs' 72-39 romp over Dover at on Thursday night.

Guard finished with a career-high 24 points, pushing Hopatcong to a dominant win and a 3-0 start. Senior forward Matt Tobin added 13 points to the victory. The Chiefs' Dan Sullivan had 12 points.

Darius Kersey led the Tigers with 14 second-half points. Hopatcong held Dover to a 20-0 first quarter and didn't allow a point until Terrence Berry's free throws with 3:26 left in the third quarter, making it 30-2.

The Chiefs had several 30-point leads, and were ahead 39-10 at the half. Hopatcong entered the game fresh off a close win over Dover and a blowout against Butler. Tobin, the school's second all-time points leader, handled most of the scoring in each game.

This time, Guard "stepped it up big time," senior guard Joey Lobue said.

Guard said he knew he needed to give his team a boost.

"I was a little shaky coming in because I hadn't been playing well the past few nights," Guard said. "But tonight I guess I found my shot."

That might have been an understatement. Guard scored Hopatcong's first five points on an open three-pointer and a layup, and dropped 11 first-quarter points. He had just three in the second quarter, then caught fire in the third, pouring in eight before leaving with 7:30 to go in the fourth and his team ahead, 56-21, to a standing ovation. 

Why the slow start to the season for Guard, who, at 6-foot-3 is perhap's Hopatcong's best post threat?

"No confidence," he said. "No confidence at all. I got off to a slow start the first game, and I had no confidence going into the next game."

Feyi Olugbenga, who finished with four points, said the team will continue looking for Guard as it's No. 2 option.

"He's going to be big for us," Olugbenga said.

Olugbenga said he knew Hopatcong had work to do if it wants to win its annual tournament, which kicks off Monday.

"We're going to have to rebound a lot better," he said. "We have to front their big guys, and we have to help out a lot."

Hopatcong emptied its bench in the fourth quarter, when Sullivan had seven points.

Hopatcong 72, Dover 39

D    0    10    11    18   —39
H    20  19    15  18    —72

Hopatcong: Hunter Guard 24, Matt Tobin 13, Joe Lobue 4, Travis Tinio 2, Jon Parker 2, Feyi Olugbenga 2, Dan Sullivan 12, Jake Smith 5, Nick Krowl 2, Pat McNamara 2, Ryan Clark 2.

Dover: Darius Kersey 14, Nick Salterelli 3, Errick Williams 7, Shaq Singletary 3, Terrence Berry 4, Edison Perez 2.

Team records: Hopatcong 3-0, Dover 0-3.