The girls basketball team enters winter break on a two game winning streak and a 7-1 record.

Hopkins started the season hot on a four game winning streak, beating teams by an average of 28.5 points. Hopkins was then upset by unranked St. Michael-Albertville on Dec. 8, losing by a final score of 76-48. St. Michael-Albertville later also upset the number four team in the state, Minnetonka, by a score of 76-69.

Hopkins dropped from number one to number two in the Star Tribune’s state team rankings, and things don’t get any easier for the girls team.

After losing to St. Michael-Albertville, Hopkins has recovered at home by beating New Prague, 87-67, and Bloomington Kennedy on Dec. 17, 70-43.

Ashley Bates, Nia Hollie, and Evelyn Knox, seniors, accounted for nearly half of Hopkins’ points against Bloomington Kennedy with 34.

Heading into winter break, the Royals will start their longest away-game stretch that doesn’t end until they face Eden Prairie on January 15.

The girls’ next game is at Park Center High School versus the number ten ranked Park Center on Dec. 22. One of the main focuses defensively is on Ann Simonet, who is seventh in the state in three-pointers made.

Another big game for the Royals on their road stretch is on Dec. 30, when they face number one ranked team, Eastview. In their last game of 2015, the girls team will play in a rematch of 2015’s state tournament game, at St. Olaf College.

The game is scheduled to start at 5 pm on Wednesday, Dec. 30.