Strasburg High School won its first boys basketball state championship on March 14, defeating Forge Christian 61-57 in overtime at Hamilton Gymnasium on the University of Denver campus.
The win was especially emotional for Strasburg, whose team dedicated the season to longtime assistant coach Kevin Hemphill, who died of cancer in January. Coach Kyle Bollers said, “Kevin was a coach with me for 17 years as an assistant. He was my best friend since I got to Strasburg and was my assistant coach since I started. These boys came together for him. He went through a long battle with cancer and he was like a father to every one of these kids. This season was for Kevin. I just wanted to bring some happiness to his family because they went through so much and he meant so much to this town.”
Bollers added, “From the point he passed in January, these kids just rallied. I have high character kids. They are not the most talented team in the world. But they are the best character kids and the hardest working kids you can ask for. They embody what our culture is and I love them to death.”
Cade Hempill, son of Kevin Hemphill, said after the game, “This win means everything. Coach Bollers poured everything into us and we wanted to play for him and my dad upstairs. It is everything (to have all this support for my dad). Everybody has been with us the whole time and I can’t even describe it.
“My dad was a part of Strasburg his whole life and that was our first state (boys basketball) title ever and this just feels amazing. We found a way to get it done.”
Strasburg finished its season with a 26-2 record and a nine-game winning streak, avenging an earlier loss to Forge Christian from February 14. The Indians reached their second consecutive finals after losing last year’s championship game.
Forge Christian ended its season at 25-3 after aiming for its eighth boys basketball crown since changing its name from Faith Christian Academy in 2023.
Nick Glatfelter described the relief felt by Strasburg during overtime: “When we got to overtime that was a big relief because the entire game was back and forth and knowing we could take the lead in overtime was relieving,” Glatfelter said. “We lost coach Hemphill in January and after that it was just all for him. This is amazing.”
The broader impact of Strasburg’s victory highlights how teams can rally around shared adversity while making school history.
