Mitch Kemp used his time to take in everything around him.
As soon as the overtime horn sounded, the York Suburban coach and his staff charged the court to embrace and celebrate with their players. Cheers echoed loud off the walls of York College's Charles Wolf Gymnasium and continued long after the final buzzer in the Trojans' 56-54 win over York High in the YAIAA boys basketball tournament final.
But long after the buzzer sounded and the net was cut down, as the team mingled and took photos with fans, family and friends, Kemp was left with a dream he and his players shared that finally came to fruition. For the first time since 1973 and the second time in program history, York Suburban earned a YAIAA tournament title.
"I've dreamt of this since I was a little kid," Kemp said. "I didn't accomplish it as a player, but as a kid I always dreamed of cutting down the net and winning a county championship. For these kids to give me my dream, it means more than anything."
Kemp shared this dream not only with his players, but with his family. A day prior, his sister, Jess Weaver, coached the Trojans' girls squad to their first tournament title in 40 years. He celebrated with his sister and parents then, and they celebrated with him Friday night.
As for the Trojans themselves, their own dream was realized. Ever since seniors Silas Leonard, Trent Weinstein and Kane Stryhn began playing basketball together, they had a simple plan − put York Suburban on top. The trio have been a three-man unit since grade school. It's been their single-minded ambition to not only make the Trojans kings of the hill, but to do it together.
So the trio went to work. Leonard not only led the Trojans with 20 points, but also scored the winning basket on a layup with nine seconds left in overtime. Weinstein was a stone wall in the paint that commanded the multiple defenses Kemp implemented throughout the game. Stryhn facilitated to his younger brother, Kaden, while picking up baskets that kept York High's second-half rally at bay.
"When that buzzer sounded, it was indescribable," Weinstein said. "I'm just so proud of these boys. We grew up together, we stuck together as a squad. It's a great feeling to come out here and play with the guys that you've been doing it with your whole life."
Their win on Friday, like their win against Central York two days prior, didn't come easily. York High ran out to an early 6-0 lead and clung to its lead well into the second quarter. Brandon DeShields scored six of his eight points in the first quarter to keep the Bearcats ahead.
Then, the Trojans caught fire. A 12-0 run through the second quarter put them up by double figures come halftime.
York High didn't back down. Little by little, it spent the second half cutting into York Suburban's lead. Nasir Barnes, who'd been held to six points before halftime, clocked out with a game-high 21 points. Sincere Burgos rained down 3-pointers to pave the way for DeShields' eventual game-tying layup with seven seconds left.
"Honestly, I thought we had it there," Stryhn said. "But, hey, stuff happens. I knew we could win in overtime. Basketball is a game of runs."
York Suburban had taken down Delone Catholic and upset defending champion Central York in its journey to the tournament final. Kemp repeated the same mantra to his players since the season began − trust the process and stay the course. It gave them success up to that point.
So when overtime came knocking, the Trojans were there to answer.
To Kemp, Friday was the culmination of everything his players have worked for since they first stepped on the court. The fact that the win comes hot on the heels of the girls team winning their own tournament title only sweetens the deal.
"This program has gone through a lot," Kemp said. "We just keep fighting, we keep working hard and we battel through. I couldn't be more proud of the guys.
And now both York Suburban and York High have a chance to look forward. District 3's Class 5A and 6A tournaments begin in earnest next week. The Trojans stand as the No. 6 seed in Class 5A, and the Bearcats enter as the No. 12 seed in 6A.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: York Suburban boys win first YAIAA tournament title since 1973