Waynesboro can't hang on versus Manheim Central
The scouting report on the Manheim Central boys basketball team has one big name circled.
Taylor Funk - a 6-foot-8 St. Joseph's recruit who lives up to the hype.
So for Waynesboro, which was tasked with limiting the massive threat in the first round of the District 3 Class 5A tournament, the game plan was clear. But unfortunately for the Indians, Manheim boasted a number of other scoring threats, and played a much more physical game than the Mid Penn Colonial Division team offered.
Despite a massive turnaround in the second half, Waynesboro fell to the Barons, 71-51.
The Indians will take on New Oxford in a consolation game at home on Thursday. No. 13 New Oxford (11-11) lost to Spring Grove in the first round 73-46.
Waynesboro (14-9) emerged from the locker room with something to prove against No. 5 Manheim Central (20-4), and began to regroup for an intense second half.
Waynesboro's Kyle Hoffman said, "When we came out in the first half it looked like we were shell-shocked a little bit, a little scared, so we needed to play our game and how hard we usually play because that's how we win games. Coach got on us a little bit in the locker room, questioning our toughness a little bit and I think we answered."
The Indians cut a 21-point deficit down to 10 in the second half, and had a few big chances on the free throw line in the final three minutes. But a 5-for-12 performance from the line in the fourth quarter eliminated Waynesboro's chance for a comeback.
"We tried to work the tempo to the best of our ability, but at critical times we came up with empty possessions even though we were doing pretty well offensively," Waynesboro coach Tom Hoffman said. "We were 10-for-22 from the line, and at one point I know it could have been down to seven, but free throws killed us. It certainly doesn't mean we would have won the basketball game, but we had them thinking, and on their heels a little bit."
But despite the loss, Waynesboro's hunt for its first-ever bid to the PIAA tournament is not over yet. The Indians must win its next two games to move on to the state tournament, starting with New Oxford.
"We need to come out and play a full game (against New Oxford) like we did in the second half tonight," Kyle Hoffman said. "We have to be who we are and play freely. But this game was good for us. They were one of the most physical teams we have seen so far on defense, and even though we were shell-shocked a little bit, we got out of it."
"New Oxford plays with the big boys in York so you know they are battle-tested," Tom Hoffman said. "It's going to be a harder road now, and (New Oxford) is well coached and they have some good athletes, so it's going to be a battle."
NOTES: Waynesboro's Evan Hine led the Indians with 17 points, followed by Kyle Hoffman with 14. Connor Hostetter led the Barons with 26 points, with Funk falling close behind with 20. The Barons had nine players contribute points. As a team Manheim Central shot 16-for-21 from the line including 12-for-14 in the fourth quarter. The Barons take on Spring Grove in the second round of the 5A tournament on Thursday.