The Quaker Valley boys basketball team picked up where it left off at the start of the second half of section play.

QV defeated rival Hopewell, 77-61, in a tense Section 2-4A game Jan. 30 in front of a near-capacity crowd at the Quakers’ gym.

“Hopewell is a very physical team and is playing well,” QV coach Mike Mastroianni said. “I thought we were able to match their physical style of play on defense, and we dictated a strong pace on offense.”

The QV hoopsters increased their section-leading record to 7-0 and their overall mark to 14-3 with their seventh consecutive victory. They defeated Hopewell by a 73-56 score Jan. 6 in their first game in the new year.

Central Valley stood in second place in Section 2-4A at 5-2 followed by Hopewell (4-3) and Avonworth (3-3).

At the end of January, QV had lost only once all season to a WPIAL opponent, falling to Class 5A Shaler, 59-51, Dec. 20 in the Harry Jenkins Classic at La Roche University.

Against Hopewell on Jan. 30, QV jumped out to a 13-4 lead after eight minutes and increased it to 36-23 by halftime. QV outscored the Vikings 41-38 in the second half.

Five players did all the damage offensively for the home team led by 6-foot-2 senior guard Zach Washington’s game-high 26 points.

“I thought we played well,” Washington said. “We competed at a high level in the second half, which allowed us to pull away at the end of the game.”

Washington was complemented by 6-3 junior guard Sam Chapman’s 18 points and 5-10 sophomore guard Nic Cohen’s 17.

“I thought our team played very well and stuck together when faced with multiple runs by Hopewell,” Chapman said. “The game was a great team win. Every section game is crucial for us. Hopewell is a good team and we respect how they play.”

Added Cohen: “We didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, but as a team, we did what we needed to. Hopewell is a physical team, and we were able to match that physicality, share the ball well and get the win.

“We understand every section game is a must-win, so our intensity turns up.”

Harrison Kerley, a 5-8 sophomore guard, and Kolton Johnson, a 6-2 junior forward, combined for the team’s final 16 points with Kerley finishing with nine and Johnson adding seven.

Washington (6-6), Cohen (6-6) and Chapman (5-5) were collectively a perfect 17 for 17 at the free-throw line as the Quakers sank 18 of 19 charity shots in the game.