In a game that was virtually over after the first five and a half minutes, the Hopkins girls’ basketball team cruised to a 42-27 triumph Friday evening at the expense of Northpointe Christian.

The verdict left the Lady Vikings’ overall season record at 5-9.

Hopkins got off to a fast start, grabbing a 13-0 lead because of turnovers and fast-break layups. The Mustangs did not get on the scoreboard until there was 2:29 showing on the clock in the first quarter and they failed to score a single basket in the entire second period. As a result, The Vikings enjoyed a 23-7 cushion at intermission, a score that looked more like it was a football game.

Senior guard Heidi Gilder picked up a lot of steals in the backcourt and inside players Meghan Schulz and Caitlyn Rodenhisler owned the backboards as Hopkins simply didn’t let the Mustangs get anything going. Kristi Lenard also had several steals she turned into easy layups and she swished a couple of short shots on the baseline.

When the smoke had cleared, Lenard and Schulz both had collected eight points and Mikayla Bulich and Taryn Kilbane both added six. Kilbane had the Vikings’ only three-pointer for the evening.

The Lady Vikings will take on Belding, another O-K Silver Conference rival, on Tuesday.

PHOTO: Kristi Lenard (11) drops in a short field goal attempt from the baseline early in Hopkins’ triumph over Northpointe Christian.