This season's North Catholic boys' basketball team looks strangely similar to last season's WPIAL champion and PIAA runner-up.

At the beginning of February 2009, North Catholic had one loss against section rival South Fayette. Today, the Trojans are again a one-loss team -- also at the hands of South Fayette.

North Catholic (16-1, 10-1) is in first place in Class AA Section 3 and is the Post-Gazette's No. 1 team in WPIAL Class AA.

Although the girls' basketball program has earned most of the recent acclaim at the school with 15 WPIAL titles, the boys also have a rich history.

The Trojans' WPIAL Class AA championship last season was their first. But under legendary coach Don Graham, who holds the state record for most victories at 801, the Trojans have a long winning tradition, including several Catholic state titles in the 1940s, '50s and '60s.

The Trojans have won consecutive section titles and are in position to make it a three-peat. They have made the postseason in seven consecutive seasons, winning four section titles in that stretch.

Dave Long returned as head coach of the Trojans Tuesday after about a month-long hiatus. Long underwent quadruple heart bypass surgery on New Year's Eve.

"Instead of toasting with champagne, I was coming in and out of consciousness," he joked.

He recently sat on the bench to help assistant coach Mike Fratto, who was the Trojans' interim head coach during Long's absence. But game officials on Tuesday told Fratto he could not stand and direct his players with Long on the bench. Long had to make a decision -- sit in the stands or take over as head coach earlier than he had planned.

To no surprise to those that know him, he chose the latter.

But did he return to his old, loud-and-animated ways?

"Well, I'm not supposed to be," he said. "But once that switch goes on it's hard to say 'I can't be doing this and I can't be doing that.' Old habits die hard. And everybody knows Coach Long's a screamer."

A 12-year assistant, Fratto said the transition to interim head coach was not difficult, and for that he credited Long.

Unlike many coaches who like it their way or no way at all, Fratto said Long is always willing to listen to his advice.

"If I wanted to try something or do something, he's there all the way," Fratto said. The biggest change was being the sole decision-maker.

In Long's absence, the Trojans lost just one game -- a 70-64 overtime decision at South Fayette, which North Catholic avenged last week, 60-59.

Fratto is amazed how unselfish this team is, especially when it comes to accolades. "They don't really care who scores, when they score, whose name is in the paper, when their name is in the paper or anything like that," he said. "It helps that so many of them are family members."

Senior forward and leading scorer Jesse Long (20.8 ppg), junior guard Martin Long and freshman guard/forward Dan Savulchak are cousins and nephews of Dave Long.

The team has another pair of family members, the Gribbins -- senior Kory and sophomore Brandt, both guards.

Several other players on the team have played on the same grade school teams for several years.

Dave Long had coached several family members in the past, and he attributes the Trojans' recent success to that familiarity.

"A lot of these players have four or five years under Uncle Dave or dad before they get to the high school level," he said.

Most high school basketball teams get their home-court advantage from a loud and boisterous crowd. And while that's not missing from North Catholic, the gym's physical features provide the Trojans the most help.

The Trojans' gym was once an auditorium, and like an old baseball stadium, it's full of nooks and crannies.

For instance, on one end of the court, a player could fall off the playing surface and into the auditorium seating if he runs too hard through a layup. North Catholic's players know that better than anybody.

"It's one of the nicer things about the school," Fratto said.

Mike White's "High School Sports Edition" videos are featured exclusively on PG+, a members-only web site from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.