By Brendan Kelly, Staff Writer
As December rolls around many students start to think of Holiday break and relaxing for those few weeks. But for 17 boys there is only one thing on their mind this time of year… Basketball season. The Boys’ team is set to open the season in Hempfield Tip-Off Tournament December 9.
After a solid regular season last year, (15-6) the boys lost an overtime heartbreaker in the first round of the playoffs to Plum.
The team was carried last year by strong play from seniors and contributions from several underclassmen. Graduated seniors Dom Coconcelli, Mike Barnes, Brendan O’Toole and Sean Stinelli were all huge factors in the success of last year’s squad and will need to be replaced in the starting lineup.
Head coach James Rocco said, “You never replace anybody, you just re-energize and reload with other guys. It is sort of a next man up and our system of play helps this.”
The team’s style of play could best be described as fasted paced, high energy. A full court trap style of defense is played all game. This type of defense leads to quick and explosive offense.
“Collectively we have a high basketball IQ which allows us to move quicker than most teams,” Rocco stated. “We are also tough and can shoot the ball. We do not have height, so when we play teams with height that’s where our toughness will come into play.”
Playing with that high basketball IQ will help P-T play up tempo this year. The game play of the Warriors is expected to be fast paced and precise. Lacking height, they will rely on speed and athleticism. Also, the three ball and their ability to shoot from anywhere on the floor should be a major key for the team this year.
“Our biggest strength is that we are a team full of shooters that can knock down three pointers,” Salesi said. “Rocco loves to say our skills pay the bills.”
Team chemistry is something that can make or break a season. Teams that have comradery and can flow together well seem to perform better on the court. This type of team chemistry will play a big role in the boys’ season this year.
“For the strength of the wolf is in the pack and the strength of the pack is in the wolf,” Seigfreid stated “Playing as a team will be extremely important, we are going to need everyone to play and a lot of young guys will have to step up.”
With new players stepping up, things are bound to change, but the expectations remain the same.
“The expectations are the same they’ve been for 20 years. To play with tremendous effort, play with a chip on our shoulder, to execute and to be the best we can be” Rocco said.
Junior Sean Kelly laid out a goal for the team this year.
“We play in a tough section this year, so we hope to make the playoffs and then go from there,” Kelly said.
The new section is highlighted by conference foes Latrobe and Norwin. The rest of the section is rounded up by Hempfield, Plum, Penn Hills, Fox Chapel and Woodland Hills.
Senior Cam Seigfreid added his postseason aspirations.
“We want to win a playoff game, P-T boys’ basketball has not won a playoff game in nine years, so we want to accomplish that,” Seigfreid said.
Having experience at the varsity level is something that is huge for high school teams. After playing a few underclassmen last year, that experience is crucial for helping develop younger players.
“Last year we had to learn a new system under Coach Rocco and it can be confusing. Being experienced I know the system and can help younger guys learn it faster,” Seigfreid said.
Helping with that transition is an experienced point guard, one of the most important players on the court. They are the field general for their team and the offense generally runs through them. Having, veteran player, Joe Salesi, in that position is a big key for the Warriors this year.
“I know what I am doing every time I step onto the court this year. I have to be a huge vocal leader to help us win,” Salesi said.
In the basketball world, size can play a huge factor in a team’s ability to win. A high school basketball team with height can be truly dominant. This is a factor that is missing from P-T.
For the undersized warriors to compete this year they will need consistency shooting from the field and straight up tenacity. Be prepared for high octane basketball this year when P-T laces up the shoes to take the court.