From the opening tip, the Royals’ eagerness to get back at Chaska (1-1) was obvious. Hopkins stormed out to a 12-2 lead in the early minutes. Eventually, that lead grew to as many as 26 points in the opening half. 

When the dust settled on the first half, Hopkins (5-0) held a 36-15 lead while holding Hawk senior standout forward Mallory Heyer to zero points. The University of Minnesota commit had 17 points in her team’s 59-57 win against Shakopee earlier this week.

“She’s a worker,” Hopkins coach Tara Starks said of Heyer. “Our whole game plan was to get a body on her. Shot goes up, box her out. She’ll work herself into points.”

Holding a 20-point lead entering the second half, the Royals showed no signs of slowing down. They pressured the Hawks up and down the floor with a full-court press that played a part in Hopkins forcing 19 Chaska turnovers.

“Defense turns into offense here at Hopkins,” Woodson said. “We get up and press, make them turn it over and get bucket after bucket after bucket.”

On the other end of the floor, the Royals’ stars shined, each getting their points. All five Hopkins starters finished in double figures. That included senior forward Maya Nnaji, who led her team with 17 points. Woodson finished with a double-double as she scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

“One of our big things is stay together, play together,” Starks said. “There’s enough for everybody on the table. Let’s make the right read and make the right play.”

Though Chaska never could get the gap below 18 points in the second half, the Hawks were only outscored in the second half by four points.

“I was proud of my kids for their effort and making adjustments,” said Chaska coach Tara Seifert. “Our confidence was better. I wish we would’ve come out that way in the first half.”

Heyer scored 13 points in the second half to complete a double-double effort as she finished with 11 rebounds. 

“She was rushing some things,” Seifert said. “I think she calmed down a little bit in the second half. She always has that motor that goes.”

Heyer’s teammate, Courtney Sanders, led the way with 17 points. The junior guard scored 21 when the teams last met in April.

This was Chaska’s second game of the season. While Hopkins has each of its top five scorers back from a season ago, the Hawks are filling some holes, including the one left by Kayla Van Eps. The 2021 graduate had a 13-point, 10-rebound game against the Royals in April and scored the winning basket in the state title game against Rosemount.

“This is a great learning tool for us,” Seifert said. “Now we know what the level we’re trying to get to again and how hard we need to push each other in practice.”

For Hopkins, it’s full-speed ahead with an experienced group ready to avenge a disappointing end to last season.

“They know they didn’t take advantage of an opportunity last year,” Starks said. “You have a whole season to get back to that point. Our focus is everybody along the way is in the way."