The Hoover Lady Vikings basketball team members literally wear their team goal on the back of their right shoulder in black marker — the number 32 — which represents the quest to play hard the entire 32 minutes of a basketball game. 

Monday night, the Lady Vikings accomplished that goal for at least the first half as they were en route to an easy 72-53 victory over the Thomas Worthington Lady Cardinals (6-2). The game kicked off the first night of the Lady Vikes Holiday Classic at the Hoover High School gymnasium.

"We have struggled with maintaining intensity in games since this summer and tonight was no different," said first-year head coach Tim Vick. 

"I felt we were not mentally ready to play and we were not good defensively."

But, Vick still was pleased to walk away with a win.

"I would rather play poorly and win than lose after playing well," he said.

Evidence of Vick's frustration was in Worthington's outscoring his team 34-29 in the second half. That was after Hoover jumped out to a 43-19 lead at halftime by limiting the Lady Cardinals to only five field goals and holding Worthington's talented sophomore Frannie Frazier scoreless in the first half.

Offensively, the Lady Vikings got 10 players in the scoring column, including four with double figures.

Senior guard Sam Pavkov led the Lady Vikings in scoring with 13 points, including three 3-pointers. Seniors Laura Wheeler and Hannah Romano added 11 and 10 points respectively. Sophomore guard Kelsey Peare played a strong floor game and added 10 points. Lady Vikings starter and post player Erika Warren saw limited action after leaving the game with a lower leg injury.

With the win, the Hoover Lady Vikings improved to 5-1 on the season and play Canfield at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Tuesday) in the finale game of the Lady Vikes Holiday Classic. Matches leading up to that game include Thomas Worthington vs. Medina at 4 p.m. and Solon vs. Clayton Northmont  at 5:45 p.m.

Game Summary: