Hempfield boys basketball team going big under coach Bill Swan

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, November 26, 2017 | 8:33 PM

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In recent years, Hempfield's boys basketball team has adjusted its style to fit personnel.

One season, it was rapid-fire 3-point shooting. Another, slash and score. All of it was predicated on the dribble-drive offense that looks to have adhered after coach Bill Swan gave it a second coat last winter.

But Hempfield has a new means to get the ball in the basket this season: size.

In an era of five-guard lineups, the low block could be more than just a splotch of paint to the Spartans.

“We'll keep running the dribble-drive motion,” Swan said. “But we'll have some guys who can post up. This will be one of my biggest teams. We've been working on more set plays and pounding the ball inside.”

The frontcourt could stand 6-foot-4, 6-4 and 6-3 with senior Braden Brose, junior Jules Nichols, sophomore Marcus McCarthy and senior Justin Sliwoski.

Brose and Sliwoski, who started last season, are working their way back from football-related injuries.

Brose averaged 11 points and six rebounds last winter but did not play a full season.

“We feel like we can be in every game we play,” said Brose, who had a career year as a tight end and brings his physical nature to the court. “I think we can win a couple games we shouldn't win.”

The apparent go-to scorer, though, is only 5-11. Junior Reed Hipps will lead the backcourt as a shooter and slasher.

“We're hoping to put it on Reed's back,” Swan said.

Hipps, who scored about seven points a game as a sophomore, foresees an effective inside-outside game for the Spartans.

“We have the size with guys like Justin and Braden,” Hipps said. “But we will be able to run, too. We have some athletic bigs.”

Senior Shawn Wilson is another player looking to make an impact, along with 6-3 sophomore forward Finn Brose and sophomore guard Drew Coletta.

“That has given younger guys a chance to fill in and show what they can do,” said Swan, who has 206 career wins, 155 at Hempfield.

Sophomore Blake Remaley, a 6-2 guard, and freshman guard Christian Zilli are out for the season with football injuries. Sliwoski, Remaley and Zilli all played quarterback.

Fox Chapel, Latrobe and Penn Hills shared the Section 2 title last season and all three should contend again.

Penn-Trafford and Plum also have some key talent back.

Hempfield, which won three consecutive games late in the season before losing its final four of five, finished fifth in Section 2.

“There will be some really good guys in our section,” Swan said. “Scholarship kids. We don't have that here. But our guys are working hard.”

Hempfield will open the season at home with its tip-off tournament, which also features Seneca Valley, Franklin Regional, West Mifflin, Belle Vernon, Greensburg Central Catholic, Jeannette and Penn-Trafford.

The Spartans play 10 games in their first 21 calendar days of the season as part of a front-loaded schedule.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Hempfield Area