By Ron Poniewasz Jr.
New Castle News

ALIQUIPPA — New Castle High's Marquel Hooker was on his game against Hopewell on Tuesday night.

Hooker notched a triple-double of 17 points, 11 steals and 10 rebounds to help propel the Red Hurricane to a 73-34 WPIAL Section 2-AAA road win over Hopewell.

Hooker tied a program mark with 45 points in the first win over the Vikings in late December.

"Marquel played well," 'Canes coach Ralph Blundo said. "He played a complete game. He shot it well. He got it ahead well. And he finished.

"I thought he ran the floor and he was excellent defensively."

Hooker was 7 of 14 from the floor.

New Castle (11-0, 18-0), which is ranked No. 1 in the WPIAL in Class AAA by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and No. 4 in the state by the Patriot-News of Harrisburg, built a 47-18 lead at the half and coasted in the second half.

"As a team, we got out of the gate and we shot it well," Blundo said. "We were able to get our younger guys some quality playing time in the second half.

"We went down there and got a win and we got out of there healthy. That was important."

Geno Stone led New Castle with 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting. He added
five rebounds and three assists.

"Geno has got himself back to where he was before he was sick and had to miss some games," Blundo said. "It takes some time to get back in your groove."

Marcus Hooker, Marquel's younger brother, chipped in with 14 points.

Pat Minenok, a starter for the 'Canes, missed his second straight game with the flu. Blundo, though, expects Minenok to return to the lineup at 7:30 p.m. Friday when New Castle hosts section foe Ambridge.

"I think he'll be back at practice Wednesday," Blundo said. "We felt we could keep him out (Tuesday), so we did."

Emmitt Willis led Hopewell (0-11, 1-16) with six points.

The Bridgers (6-4, 9-7) are in third place in the league and represent the next test for the 'Canes.

"Ambridge is a really good basketball team," Blundo said. "(Ambridge's) Darius Lawrence is a great player.

"That's the first game of a four-game stretch that's pivotal to our season."

(Email: rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com)