Hempfield boys use 17-0 run to pull away from Penn-Trafford in home tournament

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Friday, December 5, 2025 | 12:01 AM

A decisive third-quarter run stretched into the fourth and gave Hempfield all the momentum it needed to pull away from cold-shooting Penn-Trafford and improve to 2-0.

The Spartans followed an emotional victory in the opener Thursday with another home win, 70-50 on Friday night, stretching the bench a dozen deep and getting 11 players in the scoring column on the first day of the 21st Hempfield Boys Basketball Tip-off Tournament.

A 17-0 run propelled the Spartans, who were again sparked by Danny Husenits. He had a game-high 19 points and made 9 of 10 free throws (he was 11 for 12 on Thursday), and Lucas Simmons also provided big moments against the Warriors (0-2).

Husenits had eight points during the run. Simmons added 12 points on the night, including a tip-in that put the Spartans up 41-30 early in the third.

“Everyone was so ramped up for the first one,” said Hempfield first-year coach Austin Butler, who saw his Spartans defeat his alma mater, Latrobe, 61-59, in the first of back-to-back-to-back games to start the season. “The question is, are we resilient enough in culture to keep the energy up and keep going? We had to stay ready. The task at hand was P-T.

“Our younger guys were freaking awesome, and the old guys did a great job supporting them.”

The Warriors cut the lead to 48-39 late in the third after a technical on a Hempfield player.

But the Spartans didn’t flinch, as Simmons put back his own miss, then found Husenits for an assist, before Ian Spennati drilled a 3 to grow the advantage to 59-41 early in the fourth.

Just like that, it was all Hempfield. And Charles Burton’s 3 was followed by a fast-break basket by Jack Kopas to make it a 21-point game with 2:35 left.

Thomas Rennie came off the bench and hit three 3-pointers for the Spartans. He and Trevor Donsen, who played well in both wins, each scored nine.

“We had guys coming in off the bench, dudes looking for ways to benefit the team,” Simmons said. “Our coaches tell us, don’t make it a roller coaster, keep a level head no matter what happens. Don’t get too high or low.”

Hempfield led 21-18 after a tight first quarter, and Penn-Trafford was in front for most of the second quarter, with its last lead coming at 30-29.

“In both of our games, we’ve had one good quarter, and that is the second quarter,” said Warriors coach Doug Kelly, whose team lost to Norwin, 69-55, in the opener. “Hempfield made some really good shots. His guys play hard for him. We were undisciplined on defense.”

Butler liked the way his team defended.

“Our halfcourt defense was awesome,” he said. “We talk about two non-negotiables: Attitude and effort. If those aren’t there, we can’t get the job done.”

Penn-Trafford is missing two starters in Tyler Boss and Peyton Mastro, but Kelly did not blame that for his team’s lack of execution down the stretch.

“We’ll figure this out,” he said. “Whether it’s with five guys, seven guys, 10 guys. We’ll figure it out.

“Austin is doing a great job with those guys. Us, we have long way to go.”

Forward Ethan McDonald was a bright spot for the Warriors. He led them with 12 points. Orlando DeOrio added nine.

Hempfield made 8 of 22 3s, a slight improvement over their 5-for-29 effort Thursday.

Butler said he asked the seniors if they were all right with playing three games in three days.

“They wanted to,” the coach said. “Let’s do it.”

The tournament concludes Saturday with three games: Connellsville vs. Penn-Trafford at noon; Greensburg Central Catholic vs. Greensburg Salem at 1:30 p.m.; and Indiana vs. Hempfield at 3 p.m.

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

Tags: Hempfield, Penn-Trafford