Matchup: Emmaus (20-6, District 11 third place) vs Hempfield (21-3, District 3 third place)
When/Where: Saturday 4 p.m./Hempfield High School, Landisville
Coverage: LIVE www.easternpasportsnetwork.com (Pregame: 3:40 p.m.)
What’s on the line: Winner advances to face either Spring-Ford (District 1 runner-up) or Central York (District 3 fifth-place ) next Wednesday
Coaches: Emmaus – Steve Yoder (15th season); Hempfield – Danny Walck (13th season)
Probable starters – Emmaus: Jr. Will Barber (17.3 ppg, EPC 1st Team), Sr. Dylan Darville (12.3, 2nd Team EPC), Jr. Jametric Harris (11.7, 3rd Team EPC), Sr. Jake Fotta (7.4), Sr. Chase Muckey (4.4). Others: Jr. Teague McCourt (2.5), Soph. Jack Csensits (2.1), So. Mike Ekenyere (4), Sr. Jackson Lake (2.7)
Hempfield – Sr. Miguel Pena (15.8, POY Section 1), Sr. Kamyn Lawrence (10.7, 2nd Team), Jr. Ben Troyer (10, 2nd Team), Sr. Chase Calabretta (9.5, honorable-mention), Sr. Michael Hester (6, hon. ment), Sr. Michael Rieker (2.2), Jr. Nick Deeg (2.2)
GAME NOTES: Emmaus is appearing in the state tournament for the first time since the 2018-19 season. The Hornets also appeared in ’17-’18, ’16-’17, ’15-’16 and ’13-’14 …Their last win came back in the ’16-’17 season with the Kachelries twins – David and Matt – leading the way as they reached the quarterfinals with wins over Cheltenham and Harrisburg before losing to Carlisle (78-74 in 2 OT) …Emmaus is coming off one of their better efforts of the season last Saturday, a 77-66 win over Freedom in the third-place game. Dylan Darville led a balanced scoring attack with 22 points, while Will Barber added 18, Chase Muckey 14 and Jametric Harris and Jake Fotta nine each … Hempfield last appeared in states a season ago falling in the opening-round at Norristown 64-50. Their last win came back in 20-18 – defeating Coatesville 66-53 before falling to District 12 champ Lincoln 65-55.The Black Knights beat Waynesboro 53-41 in the District 3 third-place game last Friday. Hempfield’s top player is senior guard Miguel Pena who was the Lancaster-Lebanon Section 1 Player of the Year
Emmaus coach Steve Yoder – “Nobody in our locker room has ever played in a PIAA state basketball game and I’m really excited to coach them because I think this team is wired to play on this stage.
“We’re obviously playing a really talented Hempfield team but you know what, let’s go play them and see what happens. This team loves challenges and this is a new challenge for us.”