Mifflin limits Hempfield to 24 points, scores biggest win of season
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Friday, Gov. Mifflin coach Brian Wrobel talked to his team about creating an identity.
Saturday the Mustangs found one.
They played strong defense, held Hempfield’s leading scorer to half his average and upset the Black Knights 35-24 in a non-league game at the GMACC.
“We’re not the most offensive(-oriented) team,” said the second-year Mifflin coach, “so we said we’ve got to keep the score low, keep it in the 40’s (to win games), and that’s exactly what we did. We worked our butts off on the defensive end.”
The Mustangs (5-9) trailed by a point entering the final quarter before outscoring Hempfield 15-3 over the final eight minutes. The Black Knights (8-5) got just one fourth-quarter field goal, a 3-pointer from Ben Troyer, who entered the game averaging 22.6 points per game. He finished with 11.
Matt Koehler hit four straight free throws in the final minute to help Mifflin extend its lead. Trailing by five with a minute to go Hempfield began to foul intentionally.
Andrew Galantuomo hit a big 3-pointer in the fourth quarter and finished with a team-high 11 points. Bryce Detweiler scored 10.
The win is especially impressive considering that Hempfield had beaten Mifflin’s Berks I rivals Wilson and Muhlenberg this season.
Hempfield is in second place in Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League, behind Cedar Crest.
The win was the third for the Mustangs this season over a Lancaster-Lebanon opponent, following victories over Manheim Township and Lebanon.
The Mustangs played strong defense without fouling; they sent the Black Knights to the foul line just three times.
Hempfield had been averaging 55.8 points. It had scored 45 or more points in every game. The low final score is an eye-opener but Wrobel said his team did not intentionally hold the ball.
“We just played solid defense,” he said. “They weren’t able to make shots, and we were able to rebound a little bit. We focused on their top scorer and made sure someone was in his grill at all times.”
Hempfield led 8-3 in the early minutes but Mifflin came back to lead 17-13 at the half.
The win snapped a six-game losing streak.
“We’re all frustrated,” Wrobel said. “It’s nice to get over the hump, to see one in the win column and (remind the players) of how competitive we can be. Our main issue has been not being able to play a full 32 minutes. We played with Muhlenberg for a half; we played with Wilson for a half. We just haven’t been able to finish. Today we did.”
The 35 points matches a season-low for Mifflin; it lost to Cedar Crest 55-35 the opening week of the season.
Mifflin faces a tough stretch starting Monday when it plays at Berks Catholic, followed by games against Exeter, at Muhlenberg and against Reading High.