Holy Ghost Prep Defeats Lampeter-Strasburg 62-57: Kehler On Hoops
Written by: Andy Herr on March 8, 2025
Article by David Kehler
Holy Ghost Prep defeated Lampeter-Strasburg 62 to 57 in an absorbing, see-saw game at Bensalem on Friday night in the first round in the PIAA Class 5A state championship tournament. Lampeter-Strasburg was never out of contention in this contest, and a late fourth quarter rally by the Lancaster-Lebanon League squad fell just short.
The game opened with both teams hitting from long range. Ghost tallied first with a 3-pointer by 6’ 2” senior Adrien Varella, who was an All-State selection last season. L-S countered with a score from beyond the arc by 6’ 3” junior Brady Messinger, creating the game’s only tie at 3. Ghost took a 6 to 3 lead when 5’ 10” junior Adam McDonald hit a 3-pointer over the L-S zone defense. The teams then traded leads until Lampeter-Strasburg went up 11 to 10 on a drive by 6’ 1” senior Emory Fluhr. From that point, L-S led until 1:10 was left in the first half.
Lampeter-Strasburg had a terrific offensive surge spanning the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second frame. Leading 14-13, L-S had a 10-0 run on a hoop inside by 5’ 10” senior Connor Kouterick, a 3-pointer by 6’ senior Chase Smucker, another 3-pointer by Smucker, and a fast break layup by Smucker. That made it 24-13 in favor of Lampeter-Strasburg early in the second quarter. However, Ghost stemmed the tide with a free throw by 6’ 8” senior Tommy Nahill, followed by a putback by Varella, and a free throw by Varella. That cut L-S’s lead to 24-17. Ghost’s dominance on the boards began to become a factor. In the waning minutes of the first half, Holy Ghost Prep launched a 13 to 0 run during which they captured the lead for good. Ghost’s run stated with a baseline drive by McDonald, followed by a fast break layup by 6’ senior Zak Sharlin, a free throw by Sharlin, a 3-pointer by Sharlin, a 3-pointer by 5’ 10” junior Chris Albright, and a hoop inside by Nahill. Albright’s score gave Ghost a 28-26 lead with 1:10 left in the second quarter, a lead which was not surrendered for the balance of the game. Ghost led 32-27 at halftime.
Ghost had out-rebounded L-S 10 to five in the second quarter, and they continued strong board work in the third frame, in which their advantage on the glass was 11 to five. These extra possessions were key to the outcome of the game, because Lampeter-Strasburg’s offense was very efficient. Midway through the third quarter, Ghost took their largest lead of the game, 42-31, on a fast break layup by Varella. However, Lampeter-Strasburg battled back. They scored consecutive baskets on a hoop inside by Fluhr and a fast break by Fluhr to trail by 42- 35. About a minute later, Smucker hit his third 3-pointer of the game, cutting Ghost’s lead to 44-38.
A win was certainly within reach for L-S early in the fourth quarter when 5’ 9” junior Brady Zuber scored from beyond the arc to cut Ghost’s lead to 47-41. Within a minute, a hoop by L-S’s Smucker trimmed Ghost’s lead to 49-45, and the momentum had clearly shifted to Lampeter-Strasburg. However, Holy Ghost Prep countered with a clutch layup by McDonald and a three-point play on a dazzling spinning drive by Varella, and the score was 54-45 in favor of Ghost. Showing great determination, L-S responded with seven consecutive points on a drive by Kouterick followed by a 3-pointer by Kouterick and a drive by Messinger, cutting Ghost’s lead to 54-52 with 3:29 left in the game. Ghost got back on the board with 3:04 left to play on a power move by Varella to go up 56- 52. Then there was a series of missed shots by both sides until L-S scored on a drive by Kouterick with 1:12 left, trimming Ghost’s lead to 56-54. The teams then exchanged a turnover each. With 40 seconds left in the game, Holy Ghost Prep’s Varella was fouled and made a couple of free throws to give his side a 58-54 lead. Subsequent L-S fouling resulted in additional free throw scoring by Ghost, deciding the outcome. As time expired, L-S’s Smucker, who had a terrific game, hit a jumper to make the final tally 62-57.
Holy Ghost Prep out-rebounded Lampeter-Strasburg 35 to 22. Ghost committed 15 turnovers to nine L-S miscues. Lampeter-Strasburg was fouling down the stretch, and Ghost got to the line 21 times, making 11 of the free throws. L-S was two of eight at the free throw line. The teams each made seven 3-pointers. Five different Holy Ghost Prep players scored from beyond the arc, and five L-S players hit 3-pointers. There were six lead changes and one tie.
Holy Ghost Prep scoring: Adrien Varella 26, Zak Sharlin 15, Adam McDonald 9, Tommy Nahill 5, Mark Stendardo 4, and Chris Albright 3.
Lampeter-Strasburg scoring: Chase Smucker 24, Connor Kouterick 13, Emory Fluhr 6, Jared Hostetter 5, Chase Messinger 5, Brady Zuber 3, and Christian Nolt 1.
Lampeter-Strasburg 16 11 11 19-57
Holy Ghost Prep 13 19 13 17-62
Holy Ghost Prep, now 18-9, will play 22-3 Penncrest on Tuesday in the second round of the Class 5A state championship tournament. Lampeter-Strasburg’s fine season concludes with a record of 18-8.
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