He didn't play high school hoops until this year. Now he's playing for a District 3 title

Troy Sowers knew he had talent to work with when he became Eastern York’s boys’ basketball coach last spring.

He knew about 6-foot-6 Division I recruit Carter Wamsley. He knew about the shooters surrounding him.

But he soon learned there was another potential player he hadn’t heard about.

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“The kids told me at team camp there was a guy who was a monster down low who could handle the ball and run the (fast) break,” Sowers said. “I was like: ‘I gotta call this guy and get him to play.'”

From the football field to the basketball court

That guy was senior Justin Strausbaugh. And he might’ve been the missing piece that has vaulted the Golden Knights to the verge of a District 3 title. Fifth-seeded Eastern York (17-8) will play sixth-seeded Big Spring (19-5) for the Class 4A crown at Hershey’s Giant Center 4:30 p.m. Friday.

An imposing figure at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, Strausbaugh played basketball growing up but decided to focus on football once he entered high school. He racked up 89 tackles and four sacks at defensive tackle for Eastern York’s district playoff football team this fall.

Now he’s brought that same intensity to the basketball court. In his first season of varsity hoops, Strausbaugh is averaging a double-double (15.1 points per game) and has become the team’s X-factor during its eye-opening playoff run. He scored 20 points in a blowout 72-47 win over Octorara in the quarterfinals.

And his eight points and 13 rebounds in Eastern’s 51-44 upset over top seed Berks Catholic Tuesday were huge as he controlled the boards in a physical slugfest.

His presence in the post has taken pressure off Wamsley ― his cousin ― and allowed the 1,000-point scorer to focus more on handling the ball and creating shots.

“He was a beast all the way growing up. He just got away from basketball,” fellow Eastern York senior Carter Foote-Renwick said. “We knew he’d be amazing part of the team.”

A beast on the boards

he didn't play high school hoops until this year. now he's playing for a district 3 title

Eastern York’s Justin Strausbaugh fights for a rebound against Berks Catholic in Tuesday’s 51-44 road win in the District 3 Class 4A semifinals.

Off the court, Strausbaugh carries himself with a carefree attitude. He doesn’t need many words to get his point across.

Was he nervous about playing basketball for the first time in a few years? “No.” How did he get up to speed so quick? “It’s a team sport.” How did playing football help him on the basketball court? “Contact and physicality.” What’s it mean to make it to the Giant Center? “It’s huge.”

He seems to bring that mindset to the court. He missed an easy layup early Tuesday night, barely grimaced, and then scored a few plays later. He was jeered by Berks Catholic’s student section when he stepped to the free throw line but didn’t let it bother him — going 4 for 7 and hitting some clutch shots despite admitting that free throws have been his biggest work in progress this season.

And when the ball bounced off the rim or backboard, Strausbaugh attacked it like it was his prized property. If he didn’t get the rebound, he tipped it in the air so a teammate had a chance at it.

“I knew he was going to be a great teammate,” Sowers said. “(His teammates) believed in him and thought he’d help us get to this point. And here we are.”

Heading to Hershey for district hoops? Here’s how to get tickets

District 3 basketball playoffs: Eastern boys, York Suburban girls advance to finals

How Eastern York improved to reach District 3 title game

he didn't play high school hoops until this year. now he's playing for a district 3 title

Troy Sowers has guided Eastern York to the District 3 Class 4A title game in his first season with the program.

Eastern York entered this season with high expectations, but it hasn’t been a smooth path to this point. The Knights went through growing pains under a new coach in the offseason and lost consecutive games three times this season. They struggled on the road all season and finished third in YAIAA Division II.

None of that matters now. After nearly knocking off juggernaut Central York in the YAIAA quarterfinals, Eastern has won two playoff games on the road over higher seeds. The Knights are back in the District 3 title game for the first time since 2016. They can win their fourth championship and first since 2010 when YAIAA all-time leading boys’ scorer Andrew Nicholas was a junior.

Sowers is looking for his fifth District 3 title spread across three different programs.

But they aren’t the underdog anymore. Big Spring is playing in a District 3 title game for the first since since 1963 and just stunned No. 2 Fleetwood, 62-61, by overcoming an 11-point deficit in the final 2:30 of the semifinal.

Regardless of the opponent, Sowers expected to be in this position when he accepted the job and isn’t surprised his team has gotten here.

“Our moniker at the beginning of the postseason was: ‘Take what you want,'” he said. “That belief was a big thing. It was a work in progress but we wanted to be playing this way this time of the season. It’s what I’m used to. And we’re going to the Giant Center.”

Matt Allibone is a sports reporter for GameTimePA. He can be reached at 717-881-8221, [email protected] or on Twitter at @bad2theallibone.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: He didn’t play high school hoops until this year. Now he’s playing for a District 3 title

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