In Expected Battle Between Two Behemoths, ‘Angry’ Trinity Makes Good District 3-3A Title Dreams As Shamrocks Hold Off ‘Proud’ Lancaster Mennonite Effort, Nab 20th District Title In The Process
Written by: Andy Herr on February 27, 2025
In hindsight, how exactly do you prepare for this game? Admittedly, it’s a bit of a curious, if not totally leading question to try and ask.
Aside from the pure “Captain Obvious” aspect to it all that involves, you know, preparing, and putting together a scouting report and subsequent gameplan of attack, there was more to it than that come Wednesday evening at the Giant Center for the District 3-3A title fight between Lancaster Mennonite and Trinity.
With all due respect to the other nine other teams that reside within the 3A rank and file inside of District 3, had we not gotten an eventual championship tilt between the Blazers and the Shamrocks, that would’ve been well, a massive upset quite frankly. And that’s even if you want to roll the calendar all the way back to the spring and summer months once the new enrollment figures and classification distinctions were introduced for this new two-year cycle which gave us these two power brokers living the same neighborhood back together again.
Sure enough, to their shared credits without little in the way of drama along the way, arguably two of the best franchises rolling right now in District 3 regardless of their class size, did in fact make in back to the building in which they each share a residency, the Giant Center, with the opportunity to added even more hardware to an already jam-packed trophy case back on each of their respective campuses.
For Mennonite, the four-time defending District 3-2A champs prior to this new venture into the 3A world this season, it’s been business as usual for this actualized 1A-sized school that routinely scraps well above its’ weight class. Granted, while the Blazers’ opportunity to perhaps snatch up a Lancaster-Lebanon League crown for what would’ve been the first time in the program’s history inside an exceptionally shall we say, “wide-open”, conference tournament were dashed in a semifinal round loss to Warwick, it was a nonetheless productive season for Mennonite all the same considering their perfect 10-0 jaunt through L-L Section Four competition, not the least of which also considers their strong nonconference outings which was highlighted by a win over the Chester Clippers, arguably the best boys’ basketball brand that the state of Pennsylvania has ever seen.
From the Shamrocks’ side of things, it probably felt like a case of looking directly into a mirror.
Like their Wednesday counterparts, while Trinity would also make it into their conference tourney, albeit within a shrunken champions-only format in that of the Mid-Penn Conference, the ‘Rocks were able to make it to their league’s final affair before falling to the staunch 6A outfit posed by that of Cumberland Valley in settling for second. And like Mennonite, they too were essentially unimpeded by their divisional brethren this season considering their 13-1 mark on the year against Mid-Penn Capital foes, all of which helped culminate in a 17-5 overall mark prior to postseason play.
Suffice to say, there’s a reason as to why the respective camps from both Lancaster Mennonite and Trinity were routinely seen peering over their shoulders at one another throughout this season as this eventual matchup seemed all but inevitable. And that’s before you even consider the fact that the Blazers came into the year while looking to walk away with what would be a fifth-straight District 3 crown, with the Shamrocks wanting to grab their 20th D3 championship pennant all-time, an achievement that would make them just the second program in District 3’s long history to hit the 20-win plateau behind Reading High’s current high-water mark of 24 championship pelts secured all-time.
So, once again, how do you prepare for a matchup that we could’ve easily Sharpie’d in prior to the start of the season? Well, now that the game itself had finally arrived, that time had passed with all the hay being stored in the barn by this point. Instead, it was time to finally settle this months-long score once and for all.
And for Trinity, the score, both in the literal and metaphorical sense, would end in their favor. Wire-to-wire to boot.
In the initial going of this prize fight, both teams took their respective jabs sparring with one another.
Case in point, while the white and green-clad Shamrocks would jump out to a quick 6-2 bulge following a bucket tallied inside by 6’2 sophomore guard, Nick Smith, a string of two consecutive buckets tallied by way of Mennonite’s undersized yet wily junior guard, Chase Hurst, helped set the stage for his fellow classmate, Cody Fisher, to then follow suit, as the Blazers’ junior tandem did their shared part to cut the gap down to a pair at 8-6 with 3:01 left standing on the first quarter clock.
However, from that moment on, the seas grew considerably choppier for Mennonite throughout the duration of the first frame.
In fact, following a 5-0 spurt courtesy of an Andre Steel bucket at the cup which preceded a Smith triple on the Shamrocks’ ensuing trip down the floor, the highly explosive bunch from Trinity had suddenly seen their advantage swell outward to the tune of a 15-6 difference within roughly 45 seconds of game time which had rightly prompted Mennonite into burning an early timeout to try and calm the waters.
From there, the ‘Rocks saw then their cushion expand out to a baker’s dozen at 19-6 not long afterwards, all before seeing the sun set of the first quarter of play with Trinity holding serve by virtue of their 19-8 lead after one.
But in all reality, considering the manner in which the second quarter opened up, Mennonite would’ve been overjoyed at their current positioning come the end of the opening stanza.
Ironically, while Trinity had largely done the bulk of their early damage sans the overwhelming efforts of the program’s all-time leading scorer and Siena-bound senior, Owen Schlager, the Blazers’ wish for a quiet and pedestrian effort by arguably the mid-state’s most sensational talent were quickly dashed.
All told, while Schlager would finish the evening in posting what would be just another ho-hum night at the office that resulted in another instance of snatching game-high scoring honors that culminated in a 24-point personal verdict to his name – with no player from either side coming within even half of that number – his three-point play through contact at the 4:20 mark of the second quarter put this game firmly of the verge of a blowout bubble considering how the difference stood at 30-13 with the Shamrocks obviously having their machine rolling downhill at an alarming rate of speed.
Yet to their credit, backs up against the wall and all, Mennonite continued to keep swinging despite the less than advantageous circumstances presently set before them.
In fact, while on the heels of a sweet pullup jumper sunk by Jackson Bare which came before a tough Bill Rothwein bunny inside, the Blazers’ freshman and junior talents respectively had done their part to not just have a helping hand in authoring a 6-0 rally at that crucial moment in time to stave Trinity off, but they had also chipped the deficit down to a much more modest 11-point margin, 30-19, with time rapidly winding down on an explosive first half of play.
However, Mennonite wasn’t exactly done there considering how Fisher, a talented 6’3 junior piece with the Blazers’ overall concoction, sprayed in a triple to then whittle the gap down to eight at 30-22 with the Shamrocks suddenly being the ones knocked back on their heels somewhat.
All told, while the score itself changed numerals throughout the final few minutes of the opening half, that existing eight-point gap would remain steadfast once the halftime break eventually rolled around as Trinity carried with them the spoils of the 33-25 lead into the intermission to seal a back-and-forth initial 16 minutes to put it mildly.
But even in the third quarter, a chance to get a reset on things altogether, the same narratives and themes regarding various runs littered throughout that seemed to envelope the first half on Wednesday evening continued to remain just as strong come the start of the second half as well.
To be sure, while the Blazers were obviously ignited out of the chute in lieu of four straight points bucketed by the one who had his own coming out party in the District 3 championship game two years against Antietam, Bill Rothwein, Mennonite’s eventual team-high scorer who finished with a strong 12-point effort next to his name against Trinity on this night, the Shamrocks were just as redescent to push their opposition back to arm’s length once more.
Granted, while things could’ve easily started teetering dangerously somewhat from Trinity’s perspective considering how the pair of Rothwein buckets clipped the margin down to a 33-29 count, the Shamrocks weren’t about to play nice while on this quest to make a bit of history themselves.
Remember Owen Schlager? Lancaster Mennonite certainly won’t forget him. Especially here at the 4:20 mark of the third frame most of all as yet another of Schlager’s hoops through harm with a freebie added on top just as quickly put the finishing touches on a prompt 5-0 Trinity rebuttal, making it a 38-29 contest as a means to garner a bit of separation.
However, Trinity-garnered momentum and all, Mennonite simply refused to budge.
Gradually, undoubtedly sparked by way of an old-fashioned three-point play tallied in their own right courtesy of the efforts from 5’11 junior guard, Brady Grau, the Blazers had moseyed their way back to within a half dozen at 44-38. Then, that gap would be cut in half following a 3-ball tossed in by way of 6’3 freshman talent, Jackson Bare, as Bare’s trifecta – in this his own coming out party one might argue – made it a 44-41 affair before the dust finally settled on a third quarter which showed Trinity out in front, albeit by the slim 46-43 difference against their black-clad counterparts.
Now, aside from the remarkable fight in which the Blazers had exerted up until that point, something obviously highlighted by the fact that they had dug themselves out of a hole that was at one point two touchdowns plus a field goal in the form of 17 points found back inside the first half, there were two things in which Mennonite had been unable to do up until that point.
First and foremost, draw even on the scoreboard. Secondly, take what would be their first lead of the night beyond that.
Well, as far as the first of those goals were concerned, that wouldn’t have on overly long waiting period attached to it once the final stanza commenced at Giant Center.
Ironically, especially considering how he is the lone senior found on the entire Lancaster Mennonite roster in totality, Jordan Lilly’s acrobatic flip at the cup before falling to the floor made things all square at 49-apiece with 4:40 left to play. Certainly not a bad way for Lilly to tally his first points of the ballgame up until that point.
Speaking of which, Trinity’s Reece Brown was just about to do the same in his own right. On the Shamrocks’ ensuing offensive trip no less.
Here, with the pendulum of momentum now rotating towards the Lancaster Mennonite side for the first time possibly ever on the entire night at large, the time was ripe for this game to flip on a dime considering how the Blazers had indeed come all the way back, especially with roughly half of the game’s final act already having been expired. Instead, Trinity’s 6’2 junior guard had other intentions.
There, on what would result in his first and only field goal tallied throughout the entire evening, Brown’s gargantuan triple not just rebuked the earlier Lilly bucket in just a matter of seconds, but it effectively was a microcosm as to just how quickly Trinity had the means to flip the switch back in their collective favor whenever they so obliged.
And sure enough, Mennonite would get no closer for the remainder of the evening. Yes, falling just short of reaching that other goal when it came to playing with the lead.
In fact, the Shamrocks’ cushion doubled in size following a take to the cup courtesy of 6’4 junior guard, Marcus Yeager, making it a 58-52 ‘Rocks’ lead with 2:30 left to play. From there, all of which culminated in an exceptionally timely 13-3 rally following the Lilly bucket which had knotted things up not long before, a pair of successive Andre Steel buckets inside helped to make this outcome seem like it was all but a formality considering how Trinity at that time possessed the 62-52 lead with just a minute and change left to go.
Lastly, perhaps apropos considering that this was final District 3 game in which he will ever play, perhaps final game at Giant Center overall save for an upcoming March run through the PIAA-3A bracket with a route that takes them back there for the state final come the end of the month, Owen Schlager had one final punctuation mark in which he felt compelled to write.
For that, breakaway, one-handed dunk and all, what could be Schlager’s final field goal on the Giant Center floor over the course of the most illustrious personal Shamrocks’ resume ever compiled felt fitting as the southpaw’s jam with time running out was the perfect snapshot of this eventual 66-54 final verdict in Trinity’s favor over Lancaster Mennonite for a successful jaunt through the District 3 landscape for the 20th time in school history.
Afterwards, it was hard not to revel in the afterglow of this triumph most of all. Especially the road in which it took to get there.
“I would send a screenshot of the score from last year in the team group chat every week, and I think that made a lot of the guys angry,” a victorious Owen Schlager said while donning a gold medal in this postgame ceremony as opposed to the silver in which he was referencing in harkening back to the Shamrocks’ title game loss to Columbia inside this same exact spot a year ago. “We knew coming into this game that (his teammates) was going to be angry, and they showed it at the beginning,” Schlager continued. “Mennonite got back into it there, but we rallied, and we came out on top.”
And as far as his exclamation mark was concerned?
“It felt great,” the future Siena Saint candidly admitted of his dunk found in the waning stages. “Finishing off a district ‘chip like that is a dream. Just an awesome experience to have.”
As far as his head coach was concerned, the venerable Larry Kostelac Jr who knows a thing or three — or 800 times-plus — about completing this job, even for a coach of his stature, this was an accomplishment that feels all the more sweeter after falling short just prior.
“Anytime you get beaten in a championship game, you’re just so disappointed and you always look and reflect on things that you could’ve done differently. Things you could’ve done, things you should’ve done, but you just didn’t get done,” the legendary Trinity head coach said in suffering defeat. “But Columbia got the job done and they deserved to win that game,” Kostelac said in going back to his team’s loss to the Crimson Tide last season. “Our goal this whole year was to get back on this stage regardless of whomever our opponent was going to be. When I saw it was Lancaster Mennonite, and I’ve seen Lancaster Mennonite several times this year, I knew that we were going to be facing a really, really, good basketball team. Give them credit. They played a great game,” Kostelac said in praising the Blazers. “But for our guys to make it back to this point and now take it home with them, I’m just so very proud.”
Now, on the other side, while obviously a little more subdued comparatively speaking, while the Mennonite contingent was far from satisfied with the eventual result of a game that to a man they knew was coming at some point down the pike this season, there were nonetheless positives in which the Blazers can take with them prior to the start of the state tournament which will commence at the end of next week.
“No doubt,” Lancaster Mennonite head man, Jeff Hartenstine, offered outside his team’s locker room postgame in regard to his team’s fighting spirit visible throughout the entirety of Wednesday night. “I was incredibly impressed with our fight. We could’ve easily tucked our tails and ran.”
“We have some veterans out there, but we also have some young guys, and veterans with different roles now,” Hartenstine explained. “It just seems like everyone knows what they’re supposed to do now. It took us a little bit of time there to really get into the game, but once we got the monkey of our back, and the lid off our basket, we showed we can compete with a team like that,” he said referencing the victorious Shamrocks. “I just could not be any prouder of these guys.”
“A couple things go different here or there late, a couple of fouls go the other way to where I could keep some guys on the floor a little while longer, but those are things that I can fix before states,” Hartenstine remarked of in-game strategy. “The type of fight (his team) showed tonight against a caliber of team like that, I could not be any prouder,” he added. “Put it this way, I feel a lot better after this loss than I did heading out of the Warwick (league tournament) loss.”
Yet even still, hard-fought effort and all, there will be plenty of things to look back on in the coulda, woulda, shoulda department from Mennonite’s perspective leaving this one. Chief among them, being unable to get the lead even once.
“How many minutes has that game been over now? 25? However long it’s been, that’s how long that’s been on my mind,” Hartenstine said in regard to being unable to summit the Trinity mountain at any point throughout Wednesday night. “Every single second since that game’s been over now, I’ve wondered that,” he said after questioning the length of time involved. “What could’ve happened if we get over the hill? Could we have run our offense to where we annoy (Trinity) enough? They really just want to turn you over, get out and run, and embarrass you,” Hartenstine said in assessing the Trinity gameplan after more out-loud wonderment. “If we could’ve gotten that lead and just run our stuff, run our stuff, run our stuff, and then someone slips behind on a backdoor, I think we could’ve gotten them….If it wasn’t for that stinkin’ slow start,” he added lightheartedly.
“We have about a week before our first state game and we get a chance to host,” Hartenstine added in closing while looking ahead to next Saturday’s opening round affair which will get settled in due time. “I’ve got to fix (the slow start) and figure it out whether it’s doing something different in the pregame. Maybe I don’t talk quite as long if that means it gets them going earlier,” he quipped in self-deprecating fashion. “But confidence-wise, playing the way we did tonight against a team like that, I think we know that there’s more opportunities for us moving forward.”
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