Lancaster Mennonite Stares Down Hempfield As Blazers Knock Off Section One Champ In Overtime, Rumble Into League Title Tilt For First Time In 35 Years Following Instant Classic (Kehler On Hoops)

Written by: Andy Herr on February 11, 2026

(Cover photo of Kate Levato)

Article by David Kehler

Lancaster Mennonite advanced to the Lancaster-Lebanon League championship game by defeating Hempfield 49-47 in overtime in a playoff semifinal at Conestoga Valley on Tuesday evening before a capacity, enthusiastic crowd. In the championship game on Thursday at Manheim Township, Mennonite will face once-defeated Octorara, an overtime winner over host Conestoga Valley in the second playoff semifinal on Tuesday night’s exciting twinbill.

The Mennonite-Hempfield game was closely contested the entire way. Hempfield controlled the pace in the early going, with their deliberate offense probing for scoring opportunities. Unselfish Hempfield moved the ball around the perimeter and clearly was comfortable in half court sets and in focusing on outside shots. Hempfield scored twice from beyond the arc in the first quarter, but, when they got the ball down low to their inside threat, senior Spencer Troyer, they had success, too. In the first frame, the formidable Troyer scored on a layup and also made a couple of free throws. Hempfield’s inside/outside attack worked well in the first stanza. Mennonite’s offense, on the other hand, had a choppy first quarter. On three different possessions in the first frame, a Mennonite player with the ball slipped on the floor’s surface. Still there were two ties and three lead changes in the first period. Both teams were in man-to-man defenses.

By the second quarter, Hempfield’s defensive strategy became evident. When Mennonite got the ball inside, a help defender would double team the ball. Again, Troyer’s impressive presence was key. Hempfield opened the scoring in the second stanza with a power move by Troyer and a drive by senior Sean Forsyth. That completed an 8 to 0 run that had begun at the end of the first quarter, and it gave Hempfield a 14 to 7 lead, which would prove to be the largest lead by either team in the contest. To break Hempfield’s momentum, Lancaster Mennonite called a timeout. This very smart strategic move was effective, as the Mennonite team was composed from this point, and they quickly responded with a hoop inside by sophomore Jackson Bare and a field goal in close by senior Bill Rothwein. Hempfield countered with a terrific possession where they carefully worked the ball on the perimeter to set up a basket by senior Ashton Lewis. Late in the second quarter, Mennonite had their own superb offensive sequence with an inside-to-outside pass to set up a 3-pointer by senior Brady Grau. On the final play of the first half, Hempfield’s Troyer was injured and did not play afterward. Hempfield led 18 to 16 at halftime, and eight of Hempfield’s points were tallied by Troyer.

Although their most effective player was sidelined, there was no quit in Hempfield. Without Troyer clogging the middle on defense, Hempfield was more vulnerable inside and less inclined to double team Mennonite players on the interior. On offense, in the third stanza, Hempfield’s attack was more focused on outside shooting. Mennonite’s offense became more efficient in the third quarter, and they were able noticeably to increase the tempo of the game, which was very much in their favor. In particular, Mennonite senior Chase Hurst began to score on slashes to the basket, and his 3-pointer put Mennonite up 23 to 22, their first lead since early in the first quarter. After 24 minutes of play, Mennonite led by just a point, 29 to 28.

In the fourth frame, Hempfield quickly tied the game at 30 on a drive by junior Jayzen Gant, and then they took a 33 to 31 lead on a Gant 3-pointer. Lancaster Mennonite regained the lead on a three-point play by Grau followed by a 3-pointer by Hurst, and it was 37 to 33 Mennonite. (Hempfield never led again in the game from this point.). Mennonite then briefly went into a 2-3 zone defense but quickly surrendered a baseline jumper to Hempfield senior Lucas Mussmon with 4:26 left in regulation. Mennonite countered with a baseline drive by Hurst that started from the left corner and concluded with a reverse layup, and it was 39 to 35 Mennonite. Hempfield battled back with a nifty hook shot by junior point guard Cayden Auker with 2:20 left in the fourth quarter, cutting Mennonite’s lead to 39 to 37. Mennonite’s Hurst responded with another baseline drive starting from the left corner with 1:44 left in regulation. Then, on a very clutch shot, Hempfield’s Mussmon hit a 3-pointer, reducing Mennonite’s lead to 41 to 40. With time winding down, the teams exchanged empty possessions, and, following a Hurst rebound, Mennonite’s Grau got to the stripe and made a free throw with 47 seconds left in the fourth period to give his side a 42 to 40 lead. With 20 seconds left in regulation Hempfield tied the game at 42 on a clutch drive by Forsyth. Mennonite inbounded the ball but committed a turnover with five seconds left in the fourth quarter. Hempfield’s missed shot—and it barely missed–at the buzzer sent the game into overtime.

Mennonite scored first in the extra fame on a 3-pointer by Bare followed by a free throw by Hurst. With 56 seconds left in overtime, Hempfield’s Gant hit a jumper to cut Mennonite’s lead to 46 to 44. With 38 seconds to go, Mennonite’s Grau was fouled and he made two free throws. In their ensuing possession, Hempfield missed an attempt from in close, but Forsyth muscled a gutty offensive rebound, scored on a putback, was fouled, and made the free throw. That cut Mennonite’s lead to 48 to 47 with 29 seconds left in overtime. Lancaster Mennonite’s Bare made a free throw with seven seconds left in overtime to put his side up 49-47. Hempfield’s shot to tie the game at the buzzer, an off-balance jumper, just missed.

It was a thrilling, hard won victory for Lancaster Mennonite; it was a valiant effort by Hempfield, a squad which had to improvise a new game plan for the second half after the injury to a key player, Spencer Troyer. It was a terrific, exciting, and ultra-competitive game, with great teamwork shown by both sides.

In total, Lancaster Mennonite out-rebounded Hempfield 22 to 16. Mennonite committed 10 turnovers, and Hempfield had just six miscues. Mennonite was 10 of 17 from the free throw line, while Hempfield was four of five from the stripe. Mennonite made four 3-pointers, and Hempfield scored five times from beyond the arc. There were seven ties and six lead changes.

Lancaster Mennonite scoring: Chase Hurst 19, Brady Grau 10, Jackson Bare 8, Bill Rothwein 6, and Daulton Nolt 6.

Hempfield scoring: Ashton Lewis 12, Jayzen Gant 10, Spencer Troyer 8, Sean Forsyth 7, Lucas Mussmon 5, Tate Guthrie 3, and Cayden Auker 2.

Lancaster Mennonite 7 9 13 13 7-49

Hempfield 10 8 10 14 5-47

On X (formerly Twitter): @david_kehler

LLhoops.com contributor David Kehler chairs the Pennsylvania Sportswriters’ selection of the Pennsylvania boys All-State basketball teams.