H.S. Basketball Season Preview: Hempfield Area Spartans
Written by: Sean Meyers
November 30, 2018
Tags: Reed Hipps Jules Nicholls Marcus McCarthy Fin Brose Drew Coletta Christian Zilli Michael Hosni Sarah Liberatore Jessica Persin Liv Persin Riley Sullebarger
Senior Jules Nicholls is one of the top returners for Hempfield this season. (photo by www.westernpasports.com)
Hempfield Area Boys
Head Coach: Bill Swan – 5th year of second stint
Conference: Class 6A Section 3
2017-18 Record: 7-15 (missed playoffs)
Key Players Lost: Justin Sliwoski, Braden Browse, Shawn Wilson.
Key Players Returning: Reed Hipps, Jules Nicholls, Marcus McCarthy, Fin Brose, Drew Coletta.
Promising Newcomers: Christian Zilli, Michael Hosni.
>> With Hempfield Area playing a lighter section slate and aiming to expand its depth over past seasons, the Spartans have plenty of reasons for optimism heading into the 2018-19 campaign.
Despite their 7-15 finish last season, the Spartans believe they can not only make the playoffs this season, but might also contend for section supremacy. A strong finish to last year, including victories against Penn-Trafford and Norwin to wrap up the season, has allowed the team to carry some momentum into the upcoming season.
“We’re not that far away,” head coach Bill Swan noted. “When we finish 7-15, that’s very disappointing for us and our program, but I haven’t felt like the last two years that we were that bad. I just felt that Latrobe, Fox Chapel, Woodland Hills and Penn Hills have just been better than us.”
Two of those aforementioned teams no longer reside in the section, however, as defending Class 6A WPIAL Champion Penn Hills, and Woodland Hills, as well as Plum are now in Class 5A. With three teams departing, Connellsville joined Section 3 to comprise the six-team conference.
“I think myself and the other five coaches in the league would all say the same thing – I think any of us have a chance to win it. I think any of us have a chance to finish fifth or sixth, too,” Swan detailed. He did indicate, however, that Greater Latrobe could have the two best players in the entire section, so the Wildcats might have the inside track.
Although the losses to graduation of Justin Sliwoski, Braden Brose, Shawn Wilson and Grant Hipps created a void, the Spartans do return five players who saw significant playing time a year ago. Among those returnees are seniors Reed Hipps and Jules Nicholls, and juniors Marcus McCarthy, Fin Brose and Drew Coletta. Sophomores Christian Zilli and Michael Hosni could also factor into the rotation, while senior Anthony Urbani, a high-character player according to Swan, could also see some time. With an expanded nonsection slate this season, Swan hopes to develop more depth, and have a regular rotation of eight or nine players, as opposed to the six or seven-man rotation to which he’s been accustomed.
Additionally, for a rare instance, the Spartans boast tremendous size this season, something that Swan hopes to utilize to their advantage. McCarthy and Nicholls both stand 6-foot-5, while Brose is 6-foot-4 and junior Brandon Flock is 6-foot-3.
“We put a lineup out there in practice, and the smallest guy on the court was 6-foot-2. We don’t usually get to do that,” he said.
The Spartans are scheduled to open the season against nearby Greensburg-Salem as part of the Hempfield Tournament on December 7. The Spartans commence section play on Dec. 21, at home against Norwin.
Hempfield Area Girls
Head Coach: Tom Brush – 1st season
Conference: Class 6A Section 2
2017-18 Record: 12-12, lost to Peters Township in quarterfinals
Key Players Lost: Allison Podkul
Key Players Returning: Sarah Liberatore, Jessica Persin, Liv Persin, Riley Sullebarger
>> With a new coach at the helm and a challenging section schedule ahead, the Hempfield Area Spartans girls’ basketball team could experience some growing pains this season. Head coach Tom Brush, the third coach for the Spartans in as many seasons, believes his players’ attitude and work ethic could be key ingredients in their success in 2018-19.
Brush, who previously served as a head coach at East Allegheny for four seasons, spent the past two years as an assistant for the Franklin Regional girls’ team. He replaced Lindsy Muchnock, who guided Hempfield Area to a 12-12 mark and a playoff victory against Seneca Valley last season, but left the program to pursue other teaching opportunities.
Before interviewing for the opening, Brush referred back to the scouting report he made last year, when Franklin Regional played Hempfield Area in a nonsection game.
“The note I kept emphasizing was how scrappy and how hard they played defensively, and how much hustle they had,” Brush said.
Despite the graduation of four seniors, including leading scorer Allison Podkul, the Spartans have displayed similar characteristics this offseason, according to Brush.
“They all seem really eager to learn and keep improving, so that’s always a welcome thing to come into,” he detailed.
“When I got there, I met with the girls and kind of explained my philosophy and goals for the program. It’s really important to have strong communication between the players and the coach,” he continued. “They’re accepting of everything that I’ve done and said thus far. There’s been zero resistance or reluctance of any sort.”
Among the key returnees are Sarah Liberatore, a 5-foot-10 junior, and Jessica Persin, a senior guard. Liberatore was the first player who Brush met with the Spartans, and he noted that her attitude and team-first mentality epitomized the mindset of the team.
Also, forward Maddy Gray, the only other senior on the roster, as well as juniors Liv Persin and Riley Sullebarger are also expected to play key roles for the team this season. Additionally, sophomore Emma Hoffner, who is an outstanding softball player, could also earn significant minutes.
As a result of drastic realignment that reduced the number of sections in 6A down to two, Hempfield Area will play an entirely new slate of conference opponents this season. The Spartans will contend with teams primarily from the South Hills, including Baldwin, Peters Township, Bethel Park, Canon-McMillan, Connellsville, Mount Lebanon and Upper St. Clair.
In addition to the travel difficulties the new schedule presents, the Spartans will also be challenged by a traditionally strong region for girls’ basketball. Last year, Peters Township reached the Class 6A WPIAL Championship Game, while Bethel Park made the final the prior year.
“I want us to progressively get better throughout the season, each and every game,” Brush detailed. “The section is brutal, but I want to make sure that they’re competing from the opening tip to the end of the buzzer, regardless of how the game is going.”