Hempfield 57 Governor Mifflin 51 (OT): Wrap

Written by: Dell Jackson on December 18, 2021

Hempfield 57 Governor Mifflin 51 (OT)
Dec. 18, 2021

Experience…patience…stick to what got us here…Coach Danny Walck, well, walked the line as his Black Knights fought back from a 13 point deficit in the 4th quarter to tie the game and send it into OT. Late afternoon early/evening games can throw off the routines of teams. Both teams were coming off big W’s Friday evening – Mifflin beating Wilson and Hempfield beating Crest on the road. Coach Walck kept encouraging his team, switched up some defenses, and the Knights got hot down the stretch from the three line.

Governor Mifflin ran some excellent offensive sets, popped a few three balls, to keep the first quarter a back and forth affair. With 6’7” sop center, Bailey Ziolkowski setting high screens, Mifflin’s guards (Delsin McNiel and Gerrell McNeil) both Jn’s) would cut and skip pass off the screens. Hempfield’s Parker Wolfe, 6’2” sn guard, would score 10 of the Knights points in the quarter. 15-13 after one.

Hempfield had trouble scoring in the second- only 7 points in the quarter. Mifflin would take advantage out scoring the Knights by a 13-7 count. The last bucket was scored by Ziolkowski on a follow with more than 2 minutes left in the period. GM controlled the glass in the first half- 18-6. However, a lot of the boards came off of Hempfield’s cold shooting.

Mifflin would open up a fairly comfortable lead as a 10 foot banker by G McNeil put GM up 32-22 early in the third. The Knights got the count under 10, but Mifflin ended the quarter on a Aaryan Kapoor jumper and a three ball from Tyler Minick. 44-31.

Strange things happen at Hempfield sometimes…and today would offer another chapter in the strange and mysterious happenings in Landisville. Enter the three-ball. All of a sudden Mifflin could not score- literally. Hempfield would quickly cut the 13 point lead down to 3 points at 45-42. Triples by Ben Troyer, 6’4” sops, Michael Hester and 6’2’ jn guard, and Miguel Pena, yet another 6’2” jn guard ignited the crowd. A layup off a turnover by Michael Rieker, yet another 6’2 jn guard, capped off the 11-0 run. Mifflin would stop the bleeding with a foul shot at the 2:53 mark. A Pena drive ended the scoring in the fourth. Both teams had looks at the end of the game but neither could produce a winning score. 46 all.

OT..the Knights had the momentum. Hester led off the scoring early in OT. Cole Overbaugh, 6’5” sn, hit a layup and Hester would pretty much put the game out of reach with a three ball. Hempfield missed some fouls shots late, but Mifflin could not take advantage.

Points:
Mifflin: Gerrell McNeil 19, Matt Harley 10
Hempfield: Michael Hester 18, Parker Wolfe 12, Ben Troyer 10

Team stats- unofficial
Rebounds: Gov. Mifflin 34 , Hempfield 16
Turnovers: Gov Mifflin 14, Hempfield 7
Blocks: Hempfield 4, Mifflin 2

Quotables…Danny Walck, Hempfield…’Gov. Mifflin played well..they are well coached..ran their sets well…The key for us was focus..I kept telling out players we needed to focus…We switched our defenses up to try to upset their timing…In OT I talked to the players about ‘we have to work a little harder’..and stay with what got us her—rebounding and defense. …We finally got some stops and loose balls……We have to continue to stay humble and hungry.”

Next up…Hempfield travels to rivals, Manheim TWP on Tues. Dec 21. Both teams are on top in Section 1 of the LL.
BTW an LLhoops live steam game 🙂