By Mike Warren
Heading into the 2024-25 Mercer County Basketball season, Charlie Schurr was preparing to be a key contributor again for Notre Dame, heading into his final year of high school hoops. That was until Schurr suffered a setback, injuring his right knee forcing him to miss the start of the season. Described as the strongest kid on the team, as well as a bonafide leader by his Head Coach, Tim Stevens, Schurr put both of those traits on display in a signature win against Hopewell on their home floor Thursday night.
The Irish began the night on an 8-0 run in the opening minutes with Schurr scoring his first two forcing a Hopewell timeout. Defensively Notre Dame forced four turnovers while holding the Bulldogs to just four points in the quarter and keeping their eight-point advantage. Hopewell Valley did have a response in the second, outscoring the Irish 13-8 and tying the game at 17 in the final seconds. Breaking the tie and taking back the momentum for Notre Dame was leading scorer Will Foley, who drilled a right-wing three to give him 11 at the half and the Irish a 20-17 lead.
Coming out of the halftime break, Notre Dame continued their tenacious trends on defense by holding Hopewell to just two points in the third quarter which came from the free-throw line. Although the Irish only managed just eight third quarter points, they tied their largest lead of the night at nine heading into the fourth.
Hopewell Valley, who entered the night at 10-2 and undefeated in CVC-Colonial play, battled their way back yet again, this time tying the game at 32 with under three minutes in regulation. Down the stretch it was Notre Dame’s senior captain in Schurr, who would be the calming presence they needed. Displaying both great strength and poise, Schurr brought the lead back to three on a huge three-point play finishing through contact. The senior swingman who once feared he would miss his final season in high school, delivered in the biggest way possible scoring five of his nine points in the fourth, including the final two free throws that made it a 37-34 game and secured an Irish win.
Notre Dame improves to 7-6 on the season while securing a huge CVC-Colonial win and snapping the Bulldogs win-streak of nine games. In the loss Hopewell falls to 10-3 on the season and still remains atop the Colonial Division.