New Castle missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer in a season-ending nonsection setback to Hopewell.

“It was a good game,” Red Hurricane coach Mark Stanley said. “It went back and forth and the guys played hard.

“Our seniors were good leaders and we gave them a good game.”

New Castle (7-16) will drop to Class AAA next year and will likely join the Vikings in WPIAL Section 2-AAA.

“It gave us a chance to see what we’ll play against,” Stanley said of the competition. “It gives us a look at the future.”

Nick Colella paced the ’Canes with 19 points and Tyrone Steals added 15. Tonio Fulena contributed 11.

“Nick has given us his best effort all year,” Stanley said. “He practiced hard all the way to the end and that’s no surprise.”

Drew Falletta netted a game-best 29 points for Hopewell (18-5), which won the section title.