By Mike Warren

For the second time this season Notre Dame and Hopewell Valley delivered an instant classic on the WBCB Sports Network Thursday night, with another meeting decided by one score. In two meetings this season, a total of just four points has decided both outcomes in what has become one of Mercer County’s best new rivalries. After relying on senior leadership and experience back in their victory on January 16th, Notre Dame got their winning lift on the road this time from senior captain Josh Gatete.

With the game tied at 41 in the final seconds of regulation, Irish Coach Tim Stevens drew up a play for a backdoor pass to his big man, resulting in the fifth Hopewell team foul with a reach called on the entry. Gatete stepped to the line with just 4.3 seconds remaining and split a pair of free-throws to give himself 11 on the night and Notre Dame a 42-41 lead.

Following a handful of timeouts, Hopewell Valley managed to inbound and move the ball past half court before calling their final timeout with two seconds remaining, and a side inbound near the bench to follow. The Bulldogs went with a similar approach on their final play, looking for a back-door lob for their center in Ethan Rich, but Gatete secured a game clinching steal, snatching the inbounds pass out of the air and running out the final seconds.

The second meeting between Notre Dame and Hopewell was close from start to finish with no team leading by more than seven points. In the second half, neither team led by more than four. Hopewell was led offensively by Jude Berman and Milan Desai with 16 and 14 points respectively. The Irish were led by their leading scorer in Will Foley with 17 and got eight from Wyatt Moore.

In the win, Notre Dame advances to the CVC Tournament Semi-Finals for a second meeting with Lawrence High on Wednesday, February 12th. The Irish began their season in the same place back on December 13th and escaped the Cardinal’s Nest with a 42-38 win. Lawrence is now 18-5 on the year and led by one of the premiere guards in the CVC in junior Marvin McNeil, averaging just over 16 points per night. McNeil has scored in double figures in all but one game this season for the Cardinals.

For game times and broadcast schedules of the CVC Tournament, follow WBCB Sports on Twitter and X @WBCB_SN. All broadcasts begin approximately 15 minutes prior to tip-off with the Trentonian Pre-Game Show.