Spring-Ford outlasts Hempfield to advance to PIAA 6A quarterfinals

READING >> The moments are getting bigger, the pressure is continuing to build, and yet somehow, some way, this Spring-Ford boys basketball team keeps handling it all.

Even after stumbling away an eight-point lead to District 3 third-place Hempfield late in the fourth quarter on Wednesday, the Rams were able to regain their composure, throwing themselves ahead at the finish line once again.

Spring-Ford defeated Lancaster-Lebanon champion Hempfield, 43-39 in the PIAA Class 6A second round at Geigle Complex in Reading to survive and advance to the state quarterfinals.

FINAL — Spring-Ford 43, Hempfield 39

The gentlemen from Royersford continue to dance 🕺🏼

The Rams will take the winner between Pittsburgh Central Catholic and State College in the Elite 8. pic.twitter.com/kk3ptUhgxq

— Evan Wheaton (@EvanWheaton) March 16, 2023

With the win, the District 1 runner-up Rams (27-3) will face State College, a 57-47 winner over Pittsburgh Central Catholic on Wednesday, in the PIAA-6A quarterfinals on Saturday at a time and site to be determined.

“We just work on a lot of situations in practice,” junior guard EJ Campbell said. “We just trust each other and we have a good coaching staff.”

Campbell led with a game-high 15 points while sophomore guard Jacob Nguyen put up 11, going 5-for-6 at the line. Spring-Ford’s eight-point lead was its highest, 31-23 with a minute left in the third quarter.

Q4, 5:17 — Rough spell for Hempfield.

Four consecutive missed free throws, Campbell knocks down a three after.

Spring-Ford 34, Hempfield 31 pic.twitter.com/lS4mUASt4w

— Evan Wheaton (@EvanWheaton) March 16, 2023

But what followed was a six-point run by the Black Knights (25-4) after a free throw, a 3-pointer from Michael Hester and a bucket by 6-foot-5 big man Kaymn Lawrence to close the gap, 31-29 heading into the final frame.

“That’s when we were like, ‘Guys, relax. Call a timeout and just relax,’” Campbell said. “We just came back, stayed composed and really trusted each other. We preach that a lot in practice.”

Much of the fourth quarter came down to fundamentals. That, and nerves. Specifically, both intertwined at the stripe. After Lawrence drilled a pair to tie the game 31-31, several missed free throws followed. From there, Campbell retook what became a permanent lead, 34-31 with a 3-pointer.

Meanwhile, Zach Zollers, Campbell and Nguyen collectively shot 7-for-9 at the free throw line in the fourth quarter to keep the Rams’ heads above water.

Still, Hempfield wasn’t going away. Chase Calabretta pulled up for a quick bucket to cut the game as close as 42-39 with 8.6 seconds remaining.

A remarkably stout Spring-Ford defense — which allows just 45.7 points per game — was truly tested through the closing act in Reading.

“You’re talking about a two-, three-possession game. That’s huge,” Hempfield coach Danny Walck said of the Black Knights’ resurgence down the stretch. “We missed a few free throws which, this time of year, you gotta try to capitalize on those types of things.”

Miguel Pena — 6-foot-3 guard who joined the 1,000-point club on Feb. 24 — scored 10 points for the Black Knights while Lawrence piled on 11.

Neither squad was able to gain much ground until Spring-Ford’s eight-point cushion in the second half. Both teams traded blows, alternating leads and tying up the scoreboard three separate times on the night.

The Rams closed the first quarter on a 5-0 run to take a 10-7 lead after the opening eight minutes, and six straight points from Campbell in the second quarter fueled a 16-14 halftime advantage for Spring-Ford.

And still, Hempfield was never left too far in the rearview, finding points in chunks itself through its size and athleticism.

“I think their physicality surprised us a little bit,” Rams coach Joe Dempsey said. “I’ve played teams like that and we’re not exactly the thickest bunch. We had to make that adjustment to try to drive a few times and we just were unable to get to the rim so we had to rely on our execution.”

Much of that execution was from 6-foot-1 guard Tyree Banks. As the Black Knights keyed on Nguyen, Spring-Ford’s outside shooting was next-man-up, courtesy of Banks who knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers in the third quarter to lay the foundation of that once-sturdy lead.

Hempfield finished its season tied with the 1999-2000 team for third-most wins in program history behind the 29-win squads from 1998-1999 and 2009-10.

“It’s bittersweet. It’s bittersweet,” Walck said. “After the dust settles, we’re gonna get together and be allowed some laughs. But right now it hurts.”

A double overtime Pioneer Athletic Conference semifinal and PAC championship here, a District 1 final appearance there, and now a couple of tight state playoff wins, Spring-Ford is getting accustomed to playing more loose under big expectations.

A 20-game win streak in the regular season and top-seed in districts were fuel for the pressure that can be expected in a loaded state bracket. But the Rams are staying in the moment, keeping calm and carrying on as they often have this season.

“It’s about the poise. I told the kids, that was not a masterpiece. I don’t know if it was sloppy as much as it was just a physical game,” Dempsey said. “(Hempfield) wasn’t going to let us run our sets and get free. The kids were poised, we lost an eight-point lead at the end and could’ve cracked.”

Spring-Ford 43, Hempfield 39

Spring-Ford: Campbell 6 2-2 15; Nguyen 3 5-6 11; Zollers 2 1-4 5; McKenna 0 0-0 0; Little 1 0-0 2; Kelly 1 0-0 2; Lewis 0 0-0 0; Banks 2 2-2 8. Totals: 15 10-14 43
Hempfield: Pena 3 2-3 10; Riker 1 0-0 2; Hester 3 0-0 7; Calabretta 1 0-0 2; Deeg 0 4-7 4; Troyer 1 0-0 3; Lawrence 4 3-5 11. 13 9-15 39

3-point goals: Campbell, Banks 2, Pena 2, Hester, Troyer