GMS boys’ basketball team secures second undefeated season in program’s history

The 2024-25 Greenwood Mennonite School boys’ basketball team recently did what only one other team in the program’s history has done, went undefeated in the regular season and the conference tournament. GMS head coach Tyler Warfel called the season a whirlwind and is still catching his breathe after an exciting ride.

“Even after it was over it was unexpected,” said Warfel.

The Greenwood Mennonite School boys’ basketball team is shown (l to r) following their win in the DVCAC championship game to cap an undefeated season: back row- Clay Long, Carson Yutzy, Jude Harrison, George Yoder, Jonathan Schrock, Jay Michael Yoder, Jeremiah Schrock, Reese Crockett, Aiden Bates, Woody Bates, Carter Long, Nevin Yutzy, Randal Zehr, Tyler Warfel; front row- Blake Mast, Owen Swartzentruber, Bryce Willey, JC Kent, and Dallas Bates.

Warfel’s assistant coach Randall Zehr was a member of the only other Flames’ team to go unbeaten, the 2000 team that went 19-0. During Warfel’s senior year his team went undefeated before falling to Salisbury Christian in the conference championship game.

Same players, different team- This year’s team was made up of the same players as last year’s team, which went 11-9, with the exception of one new senior.

“They got used to playing together really well,” Warfel said.

The team was led by Carter Long, who Warfel called the best player in the league. Long showed great improvement in his junior season this year, making plays as the team’s ball handler by getting past the defense.

“He improved a lot from last year and became a star,” said Warfel.

All five of the GMS starters (Long, Blake Mast, Jude Harrison, Jeremiah Schrock, and Woody Bates) were a threat to score and all five were leading scorers during the season. Warfel said this is unusual at this level of play, usually some starters in the league are not looked to for scoring. All of the Flames’ starters can make three-pointers, resulting in the team netting 17 three-pointers in one game.

Warfel said turnovers were an issue the previous season, this year was one of the team’s best seasons in terms of protecting the ball. Last year was also one of the team’s worst years’s for free throw shooting during Warfel’s 14 years as head coach, this year was one of the best.

“The guys worked hard in the off season to get better,” he said.

Greenwood Mennonite won seven games by 10 points or less, including the two point win over Chestertown in the Delaware Valley Christian Athletic Conference (DVCAC) tournament championship.

“We just had guys that stepped up when we needed it,” said Warfel. “Guys just kept making big plays and that made it really fun when we had close games and guys stepped up.”

Championship game- GMS showed in the championship game that its offense can score no matter what kind of defense it faces. Long scored 13 of his 25 points in the first quarter against a man to man defense. When Chestertown switched to zone, the Flames started making three-pointers.

Despite the strong start by Greenwood Mennonite, Chestertown came back. A banked in three-pointer put GMS down by one late in the game. Long, who was dealing with cramps, air-balled a three-pointer but an unlikely hero, Mast (the smallest player on the floor) pulled in the rebound and passed the ball to Harrison (12 points and 10 rebounds) who hit the three for a two point lead. Chestertown took a three-pointer at the end of the game for the potential win but missed and the Flames capped their perfect season with a 49-47 win in the championship.

“Those are the kind of plays they made all year,” said Warfel, who had thoughts of his own championship game in his head when his team was trailing. “They’ve been tested and they made plays.”

Big game atmosphere- The DVCAC championship game and consolation game took place on Feb. 22 in Greenwood. While the team doesn’t usually draw a big crowd, the conference tournament does.

“The thing I like about our league is it’s (league consolation and championship games) a big deal on a Saturday,” Warfel said. “For a small school like ours, we don’t get the big game atmosphere often but I feel like Saturday was that.”

In addition to fans of the competing teams, the crowd including teams that were not playing in the consolation of championship game. Warfel said the crowd went wild when Harrison hit the go ahead three-pointer.

“I’m just really proud of the guys,” said Warfel, who added that his team played well together, played with toughness, and showed good sportsmanship. “They just play the right way and it makes them fun to coach.”

The team were co-winners of the conference’s Christian Testimonial Award for sportsmanship, an award that doesn’t usually go to the team that wins the championship.

Bright future- The Flames will lose two of their five starters to graduation this year.

“They filled big shoes for us this year,” Warfel said of the seniors. “They improved a lot from last year.”

Many of the team’s players also played soccer and won a conference champions in the fall.

Next year the team will return three starters as well as several players from the bench. Warfel said a good group of six of seven eighth graders who played middle school will move up to the high school level.