Westmoreland boys basketball notes: Hempfield tinkers with lineup, substitutions

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, January 1, 2026 | 5:05 PM

Hempfield boys basketball coach Austin Butler and his staff were none too happy when they saw their team’s energy dip in recent games. So Butler, the first-year leader of the Spartans, mixed things up a bit.

At the two-game Greensburg Salem Holiday Classic, Butler used a five-in, five-out rotation in the first quarter to turn up the heat and keep the vibe from getting stale. He also slightly tweaked the starting lineup.

“We want these guys to play a certain way, to hustle, rebound, defend and do the little things,” Butler said. “If you don’t do it, you come out. I want us to have better starts. It’s not a punishment or anything. Call it a glorified practice if you will. I just want them to bring it every day. It doesn’t matter if we play GCC, Greensburg Salem or PCC (Central Catholic).”

Hempfield moved to 7-4 with a Greensburg sweep: wins over Greensburg Central Catholic and Greensburg Salem. Butler hopes the break from Section 2-6A play will re-energize the Spartans, who started 1-3 in section.

“We’re trying to build momentum,” he said. “We know we can go out and take care of business; 1-3 is not where we want to be.”

Three of Hempfield’s losses are by seven points or loss, including a 69-62 defeat against Imani Christian in overtime.

The Spartans visit Canon- McMillan on Tuesday and host No. 3 Upper St. Clair on Friday.

Tight games

This season has been an exercise in crunch time for Ligonier Valley.

Three of their games went to overtime. The Rams lost 74-72 to Laurel Highlands, beat Geibel, 84-72, and held back Greensburg Central Catholic, 43-41, in overtime.

At the WCCA Showcase at Greensburg Salem, the Rams lost 52-49 to the host Golden Lions.

With some long guards and a measure of size, Ligonier Valley can play more than one way.

“We want to play fast, but we’re willing to slow down if we need to,” Rams coach Dante Porter said. “These guys are getting used to close games.”

Long-bombing guard Michael Vargulish-Graver and fellow backcourt mate Michael Wisniewski are a formidable tandem.

Wisniewski hit the winner against GCC.

“We want to run, but we’ve had to play different ways,” Porter said. “Our guys are adjusting and learning to play in tight games. It’s good for them to be in those situations.”

Ligonier Valley closed to within two points of Connellsville at the Greensburg Salem Holiday Classic, only to fall 59-55 in the waning seconds.

On the clock

The shot clock is two-and-a-half seasons away for PIAA schools, but one local high school gymnasium already has shot clocks in place — sort of.

Though the boxed fixtures mounted to the walls at Greensburg Salem were meant to be shot clocks, they are likely antiquated and will need to be updated or replaced when the state begins using 35-second clocks for the 2028-29 season.

“I’m not sure anyone else has them now,” Greensburg Salem coach Paul Sapotichne said. “I bet it was probably 20 years ago that they installed those. I didn’t have any input at the time, and I’m not sure why they did that.”

WPIAL head of officials Nick Morea said former Greensburg Salem athletic director, the late Robert “Spike” Melago, had the clocks installed because he anticipated the state implementing the shot clock.

There are numerous logistical questions to be entertained by the PIAA and member schools, financial an otherwise, including where the clocks will have to be placed, above the backboards or elsewhere, wiring issues, personnel to operate the clocks and how it will affect the 30-point mercy rule.

Csukas commits

Norwin senior point guard Mario Csukas made an in-season commitment, announcing a verbal pledge to Waynesburg of the NCAA Division III Presidents’ Athletic Conference.

Csukas led the Knights last season with a 13-point average.

He is one of 10 seniors on this year’s team and one of four returning starters. Csukas is averaging 10 points so far this season.

Rankings check

Norwin is the latest local team to grace the TribLive HSSN rankings. The senior-led Knights climbed to No. 5 in Class 6A, a spot behind another top-five newcomer in North Allegheny.

Mt. Lebanon and Woodland Hills dropped out of the top five.

Belle Vernon held on to the No. 5 spot in Class 4A, and Jeannette remained No. 2 in Class 2A.

Brown gets 1,000

Jeannette senior point guard Kymon’e Brown became the 15th boys player in program history to reach the 1,000-point mark for his career. Brown hit the milestone with a fourth-quarter basket against Bishop Canevin Monday at North Allegheny, giving him 1,003 points.

He is the first Jayhawks player to get 1,000 since Mike Pompei in 2017. Brown will be honored during Tuesday’s home game against Springdale.

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

Tags: Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Jeannette, Ligonier Valley, Norwin