Norwin outlasts Hempfield to snap losing streak, earn 1st section win
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Tuesday, January 16, 2024 | 10:32 PM
Norwin senior Noah Wilson (13) puts up a shot over Hempfield senior Caden Biondi (21) on Tuesday.
Hempfield sophomore Daniel Husentis (15) drives past Norwin senior Noah Wilson (13) during Tuesday’s game.
Hempfield’s Max Williams (center) is surrounded by Norwin’s Luke Denny (left) and Nathan Kuch during Tuesday’s game.
Hempfield coach Bil Swan shows frustration after his team committed a turnover Jan. 16, 2024.
Norwin sophomore Nathan Kuch (12) drives against Hempfield junior Max Williams during a game Jan. 16, 2024.
Hempfield senior Aaron Woodley (32) puts up a shot over two Norwin defenders while Max Williams (22) looks on during a game Jan. 16, 2024.
Norwin senior Luke Denny drives against Hempfield junior Max Williams during a game Jan. 16, 2024.
Hempfield junior Max Williams drives against Norwin senior Luke Denny during a game Jan. 16, 2024.
Norwin sophomore Alex Graney had struggled scoring in recent games.
But he scored a game-high 14 points Tuesday, including the Knights’ first four of the fourth quarter, and helped Norwin snap a five-game losing streak and earn its first Section 2-6A victory, 56-50, against Hempfield. The loss was the Spartans’ fifth consecutive and dropped them to 3-12 and 0-5.
Norwin (6-8, 1-4) outscored Hempfield, 19-13, in the decisive fourth quarter.
With the score deadlocked at 41-41, senior Noah Wilson scored four points during a 7-1 run to expand the lead to 48-42. Sophomore Mario Csukas capped the run with a 3-pointer from the corner.
“I was nice to get a win,” Norwin coach Lance Maha said. “We have a very young team, we had no returning starters, and the younger guys are starting to come on. We needed to get a win, especially against Hempfield. They are our rival, and Bill (Swan) does a nice job.”
Swan wasn’t too talkative after the game. He felt he was outcoached and “we played from behind the entire game the better team won.”
Luke Denny came off the bench to score 13 points for the Knights.
“Alex hadn’t been scoring well lately,” Maha said. “He was our leading scorer in the summer. We were happy to see that. He played with a lot of confidence. He was the difference for us.”
Danny Husenits led Hempfield with 14 points, Drew Gordon followed with 12 points, and Max Williams added 10.
“We did a good job forcing them to earn from the offensive end and taking time off the clock,” Maha said. “On the offensive end, we tried to take the first good.
“For the most part will did a good job on Williams and we located their shooters. That was our emphasis.”
Norwin was 14 for 21 from the free-throw line, and Hempfield was 4 for 10.
Hempfield started quickly, using a 7-0 run to grab a 7-3 lead.
But Norwin found is rhythm and forced Hempfield to play from behind.
The teams were tied 11-11 after one quarter, but Norwin forged out to a 25-23 lead at halftime.
Hempfield tied the score 37-37 after three quarters before Norwin took command.
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
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