Central Catholic boys sweep Hempfield in convincing fashion

By: Dave Mackall
Friday, January 23, 2026 | 11:08 PM

It’s late, and the Central Catholic boys basketball team is growing impatient. The WPIAL’s third-ranked team in Class 6A wants more respect.

The Vikings certainly earned it Friday night at Hempfield, blasting the fifth-ranked Spartans for a second time this season and keeping pace with Section 2 co-leader Upper St. Clair.

“We believe we belong among the state’s best teams,” Central Catholic coach Brian Urso said.

Enzo Khalil scored 16 points to pace a balanced scoring attack for Central Catholic, which led from the opening tip on its way to a 61-18 rout of the Spartans for its second straight victory following a one-point loss to No 2 USC.

The Vikings (15-2, 9-1) were never threatened, leading by nine points after one quarter and by 18 (30-12) at halftime. It got worse for Hempfield after the break as Central Catholic outscored the Spartans, 21-4, in the third quarter and rampaged to a 51-16 advantage.

“We beat a team tonight that was averaging almost 70 points a game over the last four games,” Urso said. “They have some good wins on their schedule.”

Christian Williams added 13 points, Danny Haller scored 11 and Owen Campfield finished with 10 for Central Catholic, which topped off another rout by outscoring the Spartans, 10-2, in a fourth-quarter battle of reserves.

“Hopefully, this is what we needed,” Hempfield coach Austin Butler said. “We’ve been 7-2 in the last 9 games. We’ve had some success scoring some points, beat some good teams. We’ve shown we can do it. Obviously, tonight’s tough for the morale, emotions and all that stuff (but) we’re still in third place.”

Despite Hempfield’s success, the Spartans haven’t been able to solve Central Catholic in two games this season. In their first meeting, the Vikings rolled to a 61-20 home victory over Hempfield (12-6, 7-5) on Dec. 19.

“We have a great senior group of kids who are playing together right now. They’re playing really hungry,” Urso said. “They know their days are kind of numbered at this point in the year, and they’re trying to make the most out of every opportunity.

“Their mission was to come here tonight and slow down a scoring offensive team lately and take away home-court advantage and do it with toughness and defense.”

Urso tipped his cap to Butler and the job he’s done in his first season at Hempfield, despite the two lopsided outcomes between their teams.

Butler, a former Latrobe star who went on to play at Holy Cross and Charlotte, said changing the culture at Hempfield is his No. 1 priority.

“Austin was a tough player,” Urso said. “He comes from a tough family. He’ll get them going here, for sure.”

Tags: Central Catholic, Hempfield