Basketball

Holy Ghost Prep 2023-24 basketball preview 

Head coach: Tom Heston ’12, first season

Last season: 14-13 record, lost to eventual state champion Imhotep Charter in the first round of the PIAA Class 5A state playoffs

Key players lost to graduation: Seamus McDermott (walk-on at Duquesne University), Ian Hendrix (playing at Alvernia University), Mel Lindsey (playing at Albright College), Brendan Boutilier

2023-24 season outlook: Tom Heston ’12 moves over one chair on the bench to replace his mentor Tony Chapman ’71, who retired after 45 years of coaching Holy Ghost Prep basketball with a mind-boggling 928-351 record. Heston’s goal is to continue the tradition of excellence at HGP hoops, while also putting his own stamp on the program. The Firebirds must replace 13 seniors from last year’s state playoff-qualifying team, but Heston has the luxury being able to build his first Firebirds squad around two returning starting guards, 6-2 junior Adrien “Ace” Varella and 6-foot senior Gavin McLaughlin. Varella averaged 11 points per game last season and should be one of the area’s top high school players the next two seasons, while seniors McLaughlin (2.9 ppg in 2022-23) and Dean Bergkoetter are the program’s only other two varsity returnees and will be asked to provide scoring and on-the-court leadership. Other players to watch for what should be a deep 2023-24 Firebirds team will be juniors Charles Steinmetz, Zak Sharlin, and Robbie Segarich, along with a pair of sophomores in Liam Duffy and Adam McDonald. Heston’s squad will take on a challenging independent schedule that includes pre-Christmas road trips to Bishop Shanahan (Dec. 5) and La Salle College High School (Dec. 10). In addition, the Firebirds will play in three early-season tournaments before the ball drops in Times Square: Jack Schott Tip-Off Tourney (Dec. 1-2), HGP’s Coaches vs. Cancer Marathon (Dec. 23), and the Benedictine Capital City Classic in Richmond, Virginia (Dec. 27-29).

HGP 2023-24 VARSITY BASKETBALL ROSTER              

NO.   NAME                                      CLASS

00      Zak Sharlin                                Jr.

1        Aden Brody                               Jr.

2        Adam McDonald                       So.

3        Robbie Segarich                        Jr.

5        Benjamin McNab                      So.

10      Mark Stendardo                         Jr.

11      Gavin McLaughlin                     Sr.

12      Dean Bergkoetter                     Sr.

13      Jeremiah Muturi                        Jr.

14      Brandon Bass                           Jr.

22      Adrien Varella                           Jr.

30      Tommy Nahill                           Jr.

35      Charles Steinmetz                   Jr.

43      Liam Duffy                               So.

 

Basketball Schedules

Freshman

JV

Varsity

vs.
Pennington School, Neshaminy HS, Strath Haven High School
Home
Holy Ghost Prep School
vs.
Pennington School, Neshaminy HS, Strath Haven High School
Home
Holy Ghost Prep School
vs.
Bishop Shanahan High School
Away
Bishop Shanahan High School
Loss 75-97
vs.
Northeast High School
Away
MaST Community Charter School II
Loss 59-75
vs.
La Salle College High School
Away
La Salle College High School
Loss 58-77
vs.
William Tennent High School
Away
William Tennent High School
Win 84-78
vs.
York Catholic High School
Away
York Catholic High School
Win 69-61
vs.
Upper Dublin High School
Away
Upper Dublin High School
POSTPONED: 1/18/2024
vs.
International Community School
Home
Holy Ghost Prep School
Win 66-51
vs.
Upper Dublin High School
Away
Upper Dublin High School
Loss 45-74
vs.
Bensalem Township High School
Away
Bensalem Twp High School
Win 86-83
vs.
Penn Wood Senior High School
Home
Holy Ghost Prep School
Win 57-48
vs.
Interboro Senior High School
Home
Holy Ghost Prep School
Win 77-56
vs.
Upper Moreland High School
Away
Upper Moreland High School
Loss 76-79

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