Hempfield Holiday Tournament: Day One
Written by: TJ Eck on December 27, 2023
Troyer brothers lead Hempfield to gritty win over ETown
It wasn’t the prettiest basketball game played by either side but it was Hempfield making the plays when it mattered most in a 49-42 victory over Elizabethtown Wednesday night in the opening round of the Hempfield Holiday Tournament.
“(I’m) a little disappointed,” said Hempfield head coach Danny Walck postgame. “Happy in the fact that we were able and had the courage and the guts to gut it out. But as far as how we played, not real happy about how we played.”
Walck continued: “I have to tip my hat to ETown. Coach (Lee) Eckert is doing a great job of coaching those guys up. They were responsible for us not playing very well.”
The teams went back-and-forth in the first half and the score was knotted at 21 at halftime. The Black Knights clamped down defensively in the third quarter, holding ETown to just eight points in the frame as Hempfield built a 34-29 lead after three quarters of play before holding on for the hard-fought win.
Leading the way for Hempfield was the Troyer brothers, Ben and Spencer.
Ben, a senior guard/forward, topped the Black Knights in scoring with 16 points and grabbed six rebounds. Meanwhile Spencer, a sophomore forward, tallied 15 points and hauled in team-high nine boards.
“It’s always a great win to win the first game at your own tournament and get in that championship game,” said Ben Troyer.
The elder Troyer entered the night as the leading scorer in the Lancaster-Lebanon League, averaging 25.0 points per game. After struggling offensively in the first two quarters, he broke out in the second half. Troyer knocked down Hempfield’s only three-pointer of the game and had a crucial breakaway dunk to help the Black Knights take the lead for good.
Meanwhile, his younger brother was a menace on the boards all the night.
“At halftime (Walck) told me to man up,” said Spencer Troyer. “I always do what Coach Walck tells me.”
Walck added: “Ben’s been rock solid and Spencer’s game keeps rising and rising and rising. (I’m) very happy to be their coach.”
Elizabethtown (1-8 overall) was led in scoring Wednesday night by six-foot-nine freshman forward Daniel Gilhool, who poured in 15 points. The Bears will meet Central York in the tournament’s consolation game Thursday evening.
Hempfield (4-3 overall) advances to play Wilson Thursday night in the championship game of the Hempfield Holiday Tournament.
“They’re so well-coached,” Walck said of Wilson. “They’re disciplined, they take care of the ball, they can shoot it, they can get to the rim. They’re one of the best teams in PIAA District 3.”
Wilson defeats Central York in AAAAAA District 3 showdown
Two of the top AAAAAA teams in PIAA District 3 met Wednesday night in the first round of the Hempfield Holiday Tournament.
Wilson knocked down eight three-pointers and held off a late rally by Central York to claim a 61-50 victory. Central York entered the night ranked No. 2 in the 6A District 3 power ratings while Wilson was in fourth place prior to the win.
The Bulldogs took control of the game with an 11-0 run to open the second quarter after the teams were tied, 13-13, following the opening frame.
Wilson was led in scoring by Madyx Gruber, who chipped in 17 points (12-14 FT). Luke Levan added 10 points and six rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Leading the way for Central York was Ben Natal and Greg Guidinger, who scored 13 points apiece.
Wilson will meet Hempfield in the championship game of the Hempfield Holiday Tournament Thursday night while Central York will take on Elizabethtown in the consolation game.
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