Boys' 2023-24 Basketball Preview: Breaking down the area teams
Last high school boys’ basketball season saw two WPIAL and one PIAA championship come back to The Times’ coverage area of Beaver and western Allegheny Counties. The football season that just ended saw the very same result. It will be worth watching to see if that trend continues… but there is reason to believe this high school basketball season could be even better.
Here’s a capsule summary of each team in the area.
Section 4-5A
Moon: The Tigers improved five wins and reached the WPIAL playoffs under new head coach Gino Palmosina last season and now are considered by many to be one of the top teams in the WPIAL this year. Four starters return in 6-5 Elijah Guillory, 6-2 Charlie Depner, 6-4 Mike Santicola and 6-3 Aiden Reesman giving Moon size and experience.
West Allegheny: Under new coach Ben O’Connor, the Indians were looking to get off to a fast start and leave behind last year’s 8-14 record. Now a senior, 6-foot-6 Brandon Bell, looks to be the go-to guy but, after years of being the only go-to guy, the Indians have other scorers as well and West Allegheny looks ready to contend for a return to the playoffs.
Other Teams in the Section: Elsewhere in the section, North Hills, Mars, and South Fayette return as playoff teams with Chartiers Valley just one game out of the post-season. That high level of competition could well repeat itself although it was a senior-oriented group last year.
Section 2-4A
Ambridge: In his first year as coach Jonas Ankrom, the Bridgers’ win total improved by five last year as Ambridge knocked eight points off the team’s defensive average (from over 70 to just over 62). The Bridgers appear to be moving in the right direction. Jared Astorino, still just a sophomore, will be carrying most of the offensive load.
Beaver: The Bobcats finished 17-5 last season, reaching the playoffs. Two of the top scorers return in juniors Brady Mayo and Ty Butler – both of whom could reach 1,000 career points this year. The other three starters, though will be new (junior Nick Krzeczowki, sophomore Junior Marino, and freshman Logan Weiland) so repeating the 8-win improvement may be tough to duplicate but Beaver will definitely be in the playoff mix.
Blackhawk: Andy Podbielski returns to head coaching with Blackhawk and has a lot of experience to draw upon. The Cougars reached the playoffs in a tough section again last year with an 11-12 record and the section doesn’t get any easier. Podbielski will have 6-4 juniors Tyler Heckathorn and Justin Shanor inside and experience in the backcourt, led by seniors Nate Franitti, Dontae Campagna, and Jake Patten.
Central Valley: The Warriors missed the playoffs by one game last year – an unusual result for Central Valley. Central Valley had another unusual experience this year as the football players were available from the beginning of practice. That should be a plus for veteran head coach Brandon Ambrose as he has eight underclassmen vying for playing time and only four letterwinners returning. Two junior starting guards return – Isiah Jeter and Cameron DeVincentis – as Central Valley works to return to the playoffs.
Hopewell: Vikings head coach Mark D’Alessandris is in his second year, finishing 0-10 in a section that included both the WPIAL Class 4A finalists. Three starters return as the Vikings look to rebound – senior Mason Showrank and juniors Zach Gigliotti and Zach Zovelli. This year’s team will be deeper than in the past as Nick Adams, Aaron Dickhart, and Bryson Swogger all look to contribute.
Lincoln Park: There isn’t much more that the Leopards could do this year that they didn’t do last year – winning both the WPIAL and PIAA titles...but with five starters returning, anything could be possible under head coach Mike Bariski, entering his ninth year. Four senior starters return – Pitt recruit Brandin Cummings, Dorian McGhee, Dontay Green, and Mikey Crawford. The lone junior starter is Meleek Thomas, ranked as one of the top prospects nationally. In the PIAA championship, Cummings had 25 and Thomas 22 in a 62-58 win over Neumann Goretti. Junior Rhaki Lum will join the playing rotation this season and may be the next basketball Division I recruit. McGhee and Crawford will play college football and the Leopards have drawn national attention, ranked 20th in the country in MaxPreps preseason ranking.
Other Team in the Section: The only other team in the section is North Catholic and Trojans finished second in the section, lost to Lincoln Park in the WPIAL championship game and reached the PIAA quarterfinals. There is no reason to expect North Catholic to not be competitive again.
Section 4-4A
Quaker Valley: Two years ago, the Quakers won the WPIAL behind Adou Thiero and Markus Franks but Thiero is now starring for Kentucky and Franks is winning Conference Player of the week honors, two seasons later. The Quakers are looking to continue that second-year pattern of success as well. Quaker Valley still finished 14-7 last year, tying for the section championship, and reached the playoffs in the transition. This year, veteran head coach Mike Mastroianni is looking to complete the rebound. Senior Joe Coyle has a year’s experience providing the offense and sophomore Zachary Washington looks ready to make an impact.
Other Teams in the Section: South Allegheny, Montour, West Mifflin, and Avonworth joined Quaker Valley in the playoffs so the section is likely to be just as competitive. Featuring 6-11 junior Ama Sow, a Division I prospect could make Montour the best of the rest. Rounding out the section is East Allegheny.
Section 1-3A
Beaver Falls: The Tigers enter the season with a new head coach in former Tigers player Ramone Shepard and also got off to a late start as the football team reached the PIAA semifinals. That championship experience should aid the Tigers, but probably not immediately. Returning as starters are captains Da’Sean Anderson and Da’talian Beauford but the Tigers should be in the thick of the playoff race once the team gets its basketball legs.
Ellwood City: The Wolverines have the benefit of one of the top winter sport stars in PIAA history in Joe Roth and a playoff experienced coach in Dan Bradley to lead the way back to the playoffs again. Roth, a 6-5 senior, is one of the top scorers in the WPIAL and routinely records a double-double while, at the same time, is a PIAA champion swimmer. Roth will obviously be the key to the success but Bradley will need to get contributions from others to improve on last year’s 15-8 year. Colten Crizer, Will Nardone, and Nate Williams all gained valuable experience last year as starters.
Freedom: First year coach Jeremy Grubbs takes over a team coming off a 1-21 season so he will be facing a challenge. He will benefit from the addition of the scoring of Cody Patterson, who wrestled last season.
New Brighton: Three starters return from a 4-15 team, giving head coach Franzee Barlamas more experience than usual but the Lions will still be young in a tough section. Senior Zach Bobin, junior Isaac Kohlmeyer, and sophomore Dash Graham return as starters while senior Brian Taylor, junior Mike Veon, and freshman Carter Jackson will contribute.
Riverside: Three starters return from last year’s eight-win team giving the Panthers some experience in a tough section. How quickly the newcomers develop could be the key to how far that trio – Drake Fox, Rob Janis, and Darren McDade – could take the team. Eleven wins would give long-time coach John Rorick hos 300th victory.
Other Teams in the Section: The other two teams in the section – Mohawk and Neshannock – finished tied for the section title with 10-2 records and WPIAL playoff games. Both will also be looking to continue the success found on the football field.
Section 2-3A
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart: The Chargers reached the WPIAL Championship for the fifth straight year last season but many of those players are now excelling in college. Head coach Mike Rodriguez, coming off a season in which he set a state-record winning streak, will need to rebuild some. With only four seniors on the roster, the Chargers will be depending on youth and has both size and depth to draw upon. Sophomore Jake Johnson and junior Vann Kavals have provided early scoring as OLSH looks to continue the success it had in another 20-win season.
Other Teams in the Section: Of the other six teams in the section, three made the WPIAL playoffs (Steel Valley, Seton LaSalle, and Keystone Oaks) and three (Sto-Rox, South Park, and Brentwood) didn’t. Steel Valley reached the WPIAL semifinals and the PIAA playoffs and will be the team to beat again.
Section 1-2A
Aliquippa: Last season, Aliquippa won the WPIAL title and finished second in the PIAA and most of those payers are back. Defending those basketball titles, though, has taken a back seat to the football team – including most of the basketball team- that just won both the WPIAL and PIAA titles. Head coach Nick Lackovich has become accustomed to that and knows how to prepare the team. The Quips will be led by all-stater Cam Lindsey, Jayace Williams, and Quentin “Cheez” Goode along with a host of others as Lackovich will go deep on his bench.
Sewickley Academy: This will be a difficult transaction for the Panthers after the death of long-time coach and athletic director Win Palmer. Jim Dudas will take over but Palmer had been head coach longer than these players had been alive so there will be an adjustment and the section is tough. Sophomores Lucas Grimsley and Amare Spencer will provide size and scoring with only two seniors on the roster – Alex Wang and Jordan Smith.
South Side: Last season, the Rams reached the playoffs and won one playoff game but with a number of football players on the roster, South Side is aiming higher. Now a senior, guard Brody Almashy – the quarterback in football - is an experienced, solid leader. As with many of his football teammates, Almashy has become used to winning although the Rams are again in the section with the defending WPIAL champion (Aliquippa).
Other Teams in the Section: Northgate, Shenango, and Laurel all reached the playoffs last year from this section and won a game so the competition will be tough again.
Section 1-1A
Cornell: First year head coach Brian Bethel takes over a team that was 0-10 in section play last year but returns four starters. The Raiders return three senior starters in Julian Cordice, Larry Lee, and Kenta Tench along with sophomore Alex Benitez. Freshman Eduardo Benitez is expected to contribute as the team builds its numbers back up.
Rochester: The Rams reached the WPIAL playoffs last year before facing eventual champion Imani Christian in the second round and seeing the season end. Three starters return from that 11-14 team in seniors Xavier Rigby and Brady Gorman and junior Jayvin Hemer. The Rams will be preparing for a playoff run with a tough non-conference schedule.
Western Beaver: The Golden Beavers return two starters from last year’s playoff team in Chantz Cottrill and Jon Backur but need to replace top scorer and primary ball handler Levi Gray, who reached 1,000 career points last season as Western finished 10-13. Head coach Dave Kotuby is counting on balance from everyone to replace the scoring and ball handling. Junior Jackson Liller and freshman Nate Schwarz will be counted on to contribute.
Others in the Section: Union won the section last year, reached the WPIAL final before falling to Imani Christian, then reached the PIAA semis before losing to Imani again. Carlynton finished second in the section and reached the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA quarters before falling to Union. Avella also reached the playoffs so the competition will be tough this year.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Boys' 2023-24 Basketball Preview: Breaking down the area teams
