The last time we heard from the Waynesboro boys basketball squad, coach Tom Hoffman’s boys were one of the hottest teams in the Mid-Penn Conference and fighting for a spot in the District 3-6A postseason.
As it turns out, the Tribe just missed out on their playoff goals and closed out the 2024-25 campaign with a 13-11 record. While Waynesboro finished outside the bubble, the Penn Manor Comets — another 13-11 team — claimed the 16th and final spot in districts.
From that experience the Tribe and Comets understand all too well that every game matters. With that in mind, both squads will be aiming to take care of business on Friday night, when Penn Manor visits the confines of Waynesboro for a non-league matchup.
We’ve selected this contest as our Game of the Week.
Waynesboro and Penn Manor are both ironing out some wrinkles caused by graduation losses, but both squads return enough talent to make this game well worth the price of admission. Rayshawn Frazier-Hewitt, who averaged double-digit scoring last winter, will lead the Tribe, while the senior-laden Comets will be guided by Logan Barnes, who averaged 8.1 points per game.
In the weeks and months to come throughout the high school sports season, we plan on spotlighting multiple teams and sports with our Game of the Week. Any big upcoming games or matches we should know about? Send suggestions to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
Penn Manor at Waynesboro
Tip-Off: Friday, 7:30 p.m., at Waynesboro
Records: Penn Manor is 0-0, while Waynesboro checks in at 0-1.
Last game: The Tribe are coming off a 52-45 loss to New Oxford.
Last meeting: Penn Manor topped Waynesboro by a 51-42 score in last year’s meeting.
Meet the Comets: Coach Larry Bellew’s Penn Manor squad is looking to build off a 2024-25 campaign that saw the team play to a 13-11 record, finish second in the Lancaster-Lebanon Section 1 standings, and qualify for the District 3-6A postseason as the No. 16 seed … The Comets will be looking to get the job done without the services of graduated L-L All-Star Michael Lower, who averaged 14.7 points per game last winter … In addition to Lower, Penn Manor also graduated a solid group of scorers that included Asaad Salim (6.0 ppg), Nate Ruiz (4.3 ppg), and Andrew Gallion (3.1 ppg) … To make up for these losses, the Comets will look to a senior-heavy group guided by Logan Barnes (8.1 ppg), Kyle Knutsen (5.2 ppg), Peyton Englert (4.8 ppg), Elijah Fisher (4.2 ppg), and Anthony Mann (4.0 ppg) … With this group, Penn Manor will be aiming to qualify for districts for the third-straight season.
Meet the Tribe: Waynesboro has plenty of reasons to be optimistic for its second game of the season, as the team returns its Top 3 scorers from last year’s winning squad … Coach Tom Hoffman’s Tribe will be lead by senior guard Rayshawn Frazier-Hewitt, who averaged double-digit scoring last winter … Frazier-Hewitt, who led his team with 13 points in the season opener, will be supported by veterans Carter Hough and 6-foot-4 forward Nate Nystrom … The rest of Waynesboro’s lineup will be a work in progress, at least in the early going, as the team aims to replace graduated Mid-Penn Colonial Division Third Team All-Stars Alex Torbica and Farin Parks … Seniors Dominic Goodworth and Ryan Jenkins both saw time in the first game of the season, as did Danny Martin, Jayden Tyler, Owen Thompson, Christian Munday, Riley Eaton, and Stephanos Gladhill … Waynesboro, looking to build off the success of last season, will be aiming to qualify for the District 3 Tournament for the first time since the 2022-23 season.
Sandrik’s pick: Comets by 4.
