Hempfield Area Spartans Boys

Head Coach: Austin Butler – 1st season

Conference: Class 6A Section 2

Last Season: 9-12 overall – missed playoffs

Key Losses: Drew Gordon, Max Williams, Dylan Firmstone, Joey DeSantis

Key Returners: Danny Husenits, Jack Kopas, Trevor Donsen

Promising Newcomers: Luke Williams, Charles Burton, Lucas Simmons, Ian Spinetti, Luke Stanley, Tommy Rennie

Circle the Dates: Austin Butler will face his former team in his first game as head coach as the Spartans host Greater Latrobe on December 2nd on WSN. Hempfield Area's section opener against Mount Lebanon is scheduled for December 12th at home and while their first match up against Norwin will take place on January 13th.

Last season started with plenty of promise for the Hempfield Area boys. As the calendar turned to 2025, the Spartans had a winning record and looked to be a playoff contender in Class 6A. However, turmoil off the court resulted in a coaching change during the season, and the Spartans sputtered down the stretch, losing seven of their final nine contests. Thus, Hempfield Area finished 9-12 overall, missing the postseason.

Now, Greater Latrobe legend Austin Butler is in charge of the program, and he’s ready to bring a winning culture back to Hempfield Area basketball.

Veteran coach Bill Swan was at the helm of the Spartans to start last campaign, but he resigned in January amid an investigation. As a result, assistant Mark Katarski served as the interim coach for the remainder of the season.

Butler, a 2017 Greater Latrobe grad and the Wildcats all-time scoring leader, is in his first season as a coach after recently concluding his professional career.

The Spartans must fill the void left by the graduation of Drew Gordon, Max Williams, Dylan Firmstone, and Joey DeSantis. Gordon was a gifted scorer, Williams was an interior force, and Firmstone, now playing baseball at Penn State University, provided high-level athleticism.

A trio of returning seniors will lead the way for the Spartans, however, as Danny Husenits, Jack Kopas, and Trevor Donsen are the most experienced players on the roster. Husenits led the Spartans in scoring and displayed his skill from behind the arc, while Kopas and Donsen saw regular minutes.

Butler tabbed six others who could develop into vital components this year, including seniors Luke Williams and Charles Burton, juniors Lucas Simmons, Ian Spinetti, and Luke Stanley, and sophomore Tommy Rennie.

“Compete and finish at the top of the section; make the playoffs for the first time in a while, and get a home playoff game,” Butler said of his objectives for the season.

With a mark of 4-10 in Class 6A Section 2, the Spartans finished in sixth place, one spot out of the playoffs. Upper St. Clair, the defending section and WPIAL champion, along with Imani Christian Academy, Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Mount Lebanon, and Norwin were the teams that finished ahead of the Spartans. Conversely, Canon-McMillan and Connellsville Area placed below Hempfield Area.

“A very tough and competitive section, but I love it and want nothing less for these guys,” noted Butler. “We have the talent and pieces to compete and win games in this section, and turn some heads. We will be ready for the challenge.”

Butler will be joined on the bench by brother Bryce, who was previously an assistant at West Liberty University, as well as Hempfield Area career scoring leader Kason Harrell, and former Norwin player Dante Rizzo.

Prior to hosting Mount Lebanon for the section opener on Dec. 12, the Spartans will welcome Greater Latrobe and Greensburg Salem, and also travel to Fox Chapel Area.

Hempfield Area Spartans Girls

Head Coach: Bob Madison – 3rd season

Conference: Class 6A Section 2

Last Season: 10-11 overall – missed playoffs

Key Losses: Allie Cervola, Mia Shipman

Key Returners: Mads Pevarnik, Ava Shipman, Gabby Coccia, Reagan Fisher, Lilly Houghtalen

Promising Newcomers: Carina Rimmel, Lena Hisman, Emma Smilie

Circle the Dates: Hempfield Area matches up with Mt. Lebanon to start section play on December 18th. The Spartans meet Norwin on January 18th and February 5th plus will host Penn-Trafford in a non-section contest on January 14th.

For the second straight year, Hempfield Area girls basketball cruised through the nonsection slate, but the rigors of Class 6A posed a different challenge. After winning the first six games of the season, the Spartans went just 2-8 in Class 6A Section 2, missing the playoffs.

Entering his third season at the helm, head coach Bob Madison hopes to navigate his team to a stronger finish in 2025-26, but the Spartans have already been dealt a major injury to overcome.

From last year’s squad, the Spartans graduated leading scorer Allie Cervola, a guard who posted 12 points per game. Cervola opted to continue her career on the softball diamond at Ohio University. Moreover, Mia Shipman graduated after filling a valuable role for the Spartans.

The top returning scorer, senior Mads Pevarnik, is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL while playing AAU basketball in the summer. The Marietta pledge averaged 9 points per game last campaign.

To fill the void, the Spartans will count on four key returners – seniors Ava Shipman and Gabby Coccia, junior guard Reagan Fisher, and sophomore forward Lilly Houghtalen. Last season, Shipman and Fisher each averaged 7 points per contest, while Coccia netted 4 points per game.

To augment that quartet, junior forward Emma Smilie, sophomore guard Carina Rimmel, and freshman guard/forward Lena Hisman will likely all see significant playing time.

After finishing in fifth place last campaign, the Spartans are eyeing one of the four playoff spots from the section. Norwin is the defending section winner, while runner-up Upper St. Clair bested the Knights to win the WPIAL Class 6A crown. Canon-McMillan finished in third last season but could be the favorite this year, while Mount Lebanon also made the playoffs. Connellsville Area finished in last, going winless in section play.

Madison, who serves as an assistant for the championship-winning softball program, detailed the objectives for this season.

“Compete and get better each time out. We have girls transitioning to new roles, but like their ability,” he said. “As always, the goal is to make the playoffs and finish above .500.”

The Spartans will host McKeesport Area, North Hills, and West Mifflin Area in early-season nonsection tilts. Hempfield Area begins section action at home against the Blue Devils on Dec. 18.