Hopkins coach Brian Cosgriff called Friday night’s girls’ basketball game against Bloomington Kennedy “just another game.” But the rematch of last year’s Class 4A state championship was bigger than that.

Hopkins freshman Jazmyn Martin, a transfer from Kennedy, scored 12 points in her return to her old gymnasium and played an important part in a 67-57 Royals’ victory.

“It’s a lot different,” Martin said, “but I have a lot of supportive teammates and they make it fun.”

It may have been different for Martin, but you wouldn’t have known it watching her performance. She hit two key three-pointers in the final minute of the first half to give the Royals a 33-28 lead.

“She’s amazing,” Cosgriff said. “Not only at basketball, but at everything she does.”

It wasn’t just Martin who had a great game Friday night.

Kenisha Bell recorded her 1,000th career point for Bloomington Kennedy and finished with a game-high 16 points.

Bell’s importance to her team was evident all night, especially when she left in the final minutes of the game with an apparent cramp. A late Kennedy run was cut short without Bell on the court in the closing minute.

Cosgriff was quick to credit the Eagles and knows there could be another rematch down the road.

“They are a great team and I know we will probably have to play them again later in the year,” he said, “Tonight was a big game, but it’s only December and we have to move on to our next opponent.”

Martin, who scored seven points against Hopkins in last year’s state title game, feels the same way about herself and her new team.

“We have to improve now so we can win later,” she said.

When asked about her back-to-back first quarter threes, she said: “I was just trying to forget about them so I could focus on the second half.”

Hopkins extended its regular-season unbeaten streak to 15 games, dating to Jan. 8 of last season.