Greensburg Central Catholic withstands crafty foul strategy to beat Hempfield

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Friday, December 22, 2023 | 11:12 PM

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Teams have tried to slow down Greensburg Central Catholic in a number of ways, but this was something new.

Coach Bill Swan and Hempfield took advantage of the new five-foul format and used some of their fouls tactically in the first and second quarters, forcing fast-paced GCC to slow down and reset its offense, without forcing the bonus and free throws.

The curious strategy helped to keep the Spartans close all game before GCC settled on a 51-46 nonsection boys basketball victory Friday night at the Hempfield Field House.

“It’s smart,” GCC coach Christian Hyland said. “They didn’t want us to get set. Bill has been doing this forever. He knows what to do. I like playing them. This game had a playoff-type feel to it.”

GCC (8-1), the No. 2-ranked team in WPIAL Class 2A, has won seven in a row. Senior guard Tyree Turner had 20 points and senior forward Franco Alvarez added 16 for the Centurions, who trailed briefly in the opening minutes and managed to keep the Class 6A Spartans (2-6) at arm’s length despite them getting close several times.

“It takes away what they’re trying to do,” Swan said of the fouling. “You don’t want them to get a shot. We have done this every game. They booed the heck out of us up at New Castle.”

Sophomore Danny Husenits made five 3-pointers for a game- and career-high 21 points for Hempfield. He had 11 of the team’s 13 in the first quarter.

The rest of the team scored 25 points.

“It was a coming-out party for our sophomore,” Swan said.

Turner had a big week. Last Friday, he scored his 1,000th career point in a win against Riverview, then had 31 points and 11 rebounds in a section victory over Serra Catholic.

He added five rebounds, four assists and three steals against Hempfield.

“When we put the effort in, we can play against anybody,” Turner said. “I think this was the best effort, as a team, we have had. Coach Swan is great. He knows us. They did some stuff to try and get in our heads. I get it. It’s always a tough battle. We won by three at our place against them last year.”

GCC took a 16-13 lead after the first quarter and stretched the margin to nine (30-21) late in the second on a rebound and putback by junior Braden Riley.

“I was impressed with coach Christian,” Swan said. “He coached a good game and GCC played hard. We got boogered up in the first quarter, but we only had two turnovers in the second.”

A five-point halftime lead only grew to six after a quiet third quarter.

But Alvarez came up with a steal and drove in for a layup, them scored on a soft feed from Turner to make it an 11-point advantage (47-36) with 3 minutes and 55 seconds remaining in the fourth.

A 7-0 spurt by the Spartans, who showed more patience on offense, cut the deficit to 47-43. Senior Aaron Woodley drove in for two, junior Dylan Firmstone converted a steal into points, and 6-foot-6 junior Maximus Williams made a turnaround jumper.

But GCC used free throws to go ahead 51-43 before a late 3 from Hempfield junior Drew Gordon with 11.8 seconds left.

“With 20 seconds to go and our (scorers held in check), we were right there,” Swan said. “That is a testament to how hard our kids play.”

Riley had two steals inside the final 45 seconds to help GCC seal the win.

“I thought (junior) Liam (Gallagher), Brady and Riley were rock-solid defensively,” Hyland said. “That was some of the best defensive basketball we have played over a four-game stretch.”

Neither team fouled a lot. In fact, Hempfield only attempted two free throws, with both coming in the fourth quarter.

GCC was 4 for 7 from the line, attempting six in the fourth when it finally reached the bonus.

Hempfield coaches wore gray T-shirts — players wore them in warmups — to honor the late Tay Waltenbaugh, a Westmoreland County community activist and former basketball standout at Highlands. Waltenbaugh, who was an assistant coach with Swan in the early 2000s, died Dec. 17 at 69.

Swan borrowed the mic and said a few words about Waltenbaugh to the crowd before the game before asking for a moment of silence. He held back tears recalling his longtime friend.

GCC and Hempfield will play in the Paul Sapotichne Holiday Classic at Greensburg Salem next Wednesday and Thursday, but they won’t play each other.

GCC plays Yough and Penn Hills, while the Spartans take on Penn Hills and Greensburg Salem.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Greensburg C.C., Hempfield