The Hopedale Blue Raiders advanced in the D5 playoffs with a gritty 58-53 victory over previously unbeaten Bethany Christian Tuesday night. This was a second-round matchup pitting No. 2 Hopedale against No. 15 Bethany Christian, and it turned into a tight, physical contest that swung in Hopedale’s favor late.
Hopedale trailed 25-24 at intermission before a decisive second-half push. Keegan Murphy led the charge, scoring 21 points overall and 13 of those after halftime. J.J. Douglas added 17 points, with 12 coming in the second half, to pair with Murphy’s scoring surge. For Bethany Christian, Braidan Morais poured in 27 points in a losing effort and kept the game close through much of the night.
Hopedale will now prepare for a tough quarterfinal matchup with Prospect Hill Academy Charter School, a No. 7 seed that went 17-3 in the regular season and has looked strong through its opening playoff wins. The date and time for Hopedale’s next game will be announced soon. Hopedale’s late-game execution and second-half scoring depth will be key as it faces its biggest challenge in the bracket so far.
