Muhls, Hawks, Trojans win season-opening tournaments
Muhlenberg, Hamburg and Tulpehocken each claimed season tip-off tournament titles Saturday, moving to 2-0.
For the Muhls, expected to be a top District 3 Class 5A contender, the 62-55 win over Columbia in the Manheim Township Tip-Off shouldn’t come as a huge surprise.
For the Hawks and Trojans . . . a bit more so, especially considering each is playing for a first-year coach.
Hamburg’s Kevin McFarland improved to 2-0 as Hamburg beat Brandywine Heights 66-44 in the finals of the Hamburg Tip-Off Tournament. Making it even better for the coach: His son, Kevin McFaland III, had a game-high 21 points and was named tournament MVP.
Tulpehocken’s Nate Miller is 2-0 as well after the Trojans beat Pequea Valley 71-61, getting a career-high 24 points from Nolan Sweitzer.
At Neffsville, the Muhls trailed 8-0 at the outset, by nine at halftime and 43-33 after three quarters. They stormed back with a huge fourth quarter, outscoring the Crimson Tide 29-12.
Eric Branch led the way with a game-high 19 points for the Muhls and was named to the all-tournament team. Xzavion Robertson, who had 26 points on opening night, scored 17, making 10-of-13 free throws; he was named tournament MVP. J’Daniel Mosquera scored 11.
The Muhls made just five 3-pointers — a low number for them — but profited at the foul line, where they hit 25-of-34.
At Hamburg, Xander Menapace, who scored scored 13 points for the Hawks, joined McFarland and teammate Conner Licklider on the all-tournament team. Licklider hit three 3-pointers and also had 13 points. Jayden Kantner led Brandywine with 11 points and was named to the all-tournament team.
At New Schaefferstown, Sweitzer scored seven second-quarter points as the Trojans moved out to a 37-21 halftime lead over the Braves. Tulpehocken had four players reach double figures, with Lucas Werner (16), Noah Addis (11) and Nasir Evans (10) joining Sweitzer.
David Bednarczyk, who scored 21 points in the opener round, joined Sweitzer on the all-tournament team.
