One of the biggest contributors to Hopkins' success this season is from a player many not might even know about.

She isn't one of the Division I prospects that dot the roster. In fact, she can't even drive yet, but Royals coach Brian Cosgriff says she's a special, special player.

Meet Paige Bueckers, the eight-grade sensation averaging 9.6 points per game off the bench for Hopkins (18-2).

"I think she's going to be in that realm of the great ones to play in Minnesota basketball, I really do," Cosgriff said.

Cosgriff is no stranger to coaching big talent during his 16 years at the helm for Hopkins. He currently has three Division I-bound players under his watch in Nia Hollie (Michigan State), Evelyn Knox (Wayne State) and Ashley Bates (Hampton), to go along with many more he's coached over the years.

He might be onto something if the 5-foot-9 eighth-grader keeps producing.

Bueckers tallied 12 points on Thursday when the Royals, ranked No. 2 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, defeated No. 1-4A Shakopee 70-54 to hand the Sabers their first loss of the season.

Hopkins went into halftime tied with Shakopee 27-27 and came out gunning in the second half. Bueckers and Bates did most of the damage, scoring 10 and 9 points, respectively, to help the Royals pull away.

"It's actually really nice (having Bueckers come off the bench) because we know that we have somebody to fall back on," Bates said. "When we need someone when we're not playing well or hitting our shots, she's gonna step up."

Bates, who was honored before the game for scoring her 1,000th career point on Dec. 18, finished with 15 on Thursday and said the biggest difference in the two halves, despite the scoring uptick, was defense.

"We realized how our defense was in the first half and what we had to do to get a step up in the second half," Bates said. "We had to play lockdown 'D' and get rebounds."

Hopkins has been no stranger to solid defense this season, giving up just 48.9 ppg. But the Royals have let things get away from them defensively against some of the other top teams in Class 4A, as was the case in a 67-59 loss to Lake Conference rival and No. 7-ranked Minnetonka two weeks ago

Such is life as a top program in the state, and Cosgriff said his team still has lots of work to do as the regular season winds down and Hopkins turns its eyes towards defending its state championship.

And despite all the Division I talent and 10 seniors on the roster, it'll be Bueckers leading the charge off the bench for the Royals.

"My teammates and my coaches have pushed me to be the player I am and have confidence," Bueckers said. "Just because I'm an eighth-grader, (I can't) be afraid to do what I have to do."

Nia Hollie scored 18 points to lead Hopkins past previously unbeaten Shakopee 70-54 at home Thursday.

The Royals (18-2, 3-1), ranked No. 2 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News, also received 15 points from Ashley Bates, who was recognized before the game for scoring her 1,000th career point on Dec. 18 against McEachern (GA). 

Taylor Koenen finished with a game-high 24 points for the No. 1-4A Sabers (17-1, 10-0), who couldn't keep pace with the Royals after heading into halftime tied 27-27.

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