2011-12 Boys' Basketball: WPIAL Class AAA preview
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Montour's Devin Wilson hopes to lead the Spartans back to the WPIAL championship.
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(2010-11 record listed)
1. New Castle (20-8)
2. Montour (23-8)
3. Hampton (15-8)
4. Blackhawk (17-9)
5. Uniontown (17-7)
TEAM TO BEAT
Hampton: Sophomore twins Ryan and Collin Luther (both 6 feet 5) could spell double trouble for Talbots opponents. Throw in another returning starter, senior forward Mike Pilarski, and coach Joe Lafko might have the most talented frontcourt in Class AAA.
CONTENDERS
Highlands: The Golden Rams will ride the scoring ability of prolific senior guard Micah Mason, who led the WPIAL in scoring last season (33.3 ppg) and scored the most points in a single game by a WPIAL player (64 against Valley) in more than 50 years.
Mars: Owen Nearhoof, the team's sixth man last season, is a promising sophomore guard who will be counted on to carry more of the offensive load now that the school's all-time leading scorer, Christian Locher, has graduated.
OTHERS
Knoch: The Knights, who have not made the playoffs since 2007, hope to keep the momentum going from the school's outstanding football season.
Valley: Junior guard-forward Thomas Weremeychik will try to help the Vikings and new coach Phil Cope, who was not hired until late October.
Kittanning: The graduation of all-time leading scorer Nathan Stolitza is a major loss, but the Wildcats do have a solid performer in junior guard Sterling Henry (8 ppg).
Burrell: Matt Hess (8 ppg), a junior forward, is one of three returning starters for a Bucs team that brings back eight lettermen.
Deer Lakes: Junior guard Tim Jaczesko averaged 15 points per game last season, but is currently out with a broken leg.
TEAM TO BEAT
New Castle: The dynamic duo of senior Corey Eggleston (18 ppg), an all-section guard, and junior guard-forward Shawn Anderson make the Red Hurricane a WPIAL contender.
CONTENDERS
Blackhawk: Outstanding backcourt play is the name of the game for the Cougars, who return a trio of starting guards -- all seniors -- led by all-section pick Cory Ostach (16.6 ppg). The Cougars were dealt a blow when talented sophomore Chandler Kincade, a Pitt football recruit, chose not to play basketball this season.
Beaver: It's been more than a decade since the Bobcats last made the playoffs, but that trend could be broken this season with three starters back, highlighted by senior guard Curt Lanctot (13 ppg).
OTHERS
Central Valley: Senior guards Dan Steffine and Curtis Lewis, both starters last season, will try to get the Warriors back to the playoffs.
West Allegheny: Senior guard Dylan Bongiorni (16 ppg) led the Indians in scoring last season and is the lone returning starter.
Hopewell: Senior forward Nolan Harmotto and new coach Doug Williams hope to have the Vikings in the race for a playoff spot.
Ambridge: Second-year coach Joe Falletta will rely heavily on junior guard Malik Walker (16 ppg), a three-year starter and the team's leading scorer last season.
TEAM TO BEAT
Greensburg Salem: This projects to be another strong year for the Golden Lions, who are a terrific 75-11 in section play over the past seven seasons. Senior guard Tyler Robbins (12 ppg), senior forward Julian Thompson (11 ppg) and senior center Waylon Fink (10 ppg) all started a season ago.
CONTENDERS
Uniontown: The Red Raiders shared the section title with Greensburg Salem last season, and were the lone Section 3 team to win a playoff game. Two seniors, guard Marcus Thomas and forward Kerik Morris, are the top returnees.
Indiana: Senior Tyrayl Veney (16.1 ppg) is perhaps the top guard in the section and will be joined in the backcourt by transfer Logan Weaver, a senior guard who averaged 16 points per game last season at Punxsutawney.
OTHERS
Southmoreland: Senior guard Tommy Szatkowski (16.1 ppg) is among a large group of returnees from last season's team that helped the Scotties end a five-year playoff drought.
Mount Pleasant: The Vikings move on with heavy hearts after longtime coach Tom Traynor died of cancer in May. Sophomore guard Ryan Gumbita (11.8) was named all-section as a freshman.
Derry: The Trojans made strides by winning five games last season, and a group of returnees headed by senior forward Jeremy Hauser could help them take another step forward.
Yough: The Cougars hope to improve after going winless in section play last season.
TEAM TO BEAT
Keystone Oaks: It could be the "Rocco and Ricky Show" this season at Keystone Oaks. Senior guard Rocco Contristano (20.2 ppg) led the section in scoring last season, and fellow guard Ricky Rogers (10 ppg) is one of the most talented sophomores in the WPIAL for new Golden Eagles coach Gene Mercuri.
CONTENDERS
Thomas Jefferson: Senior forward Joe Schaeffer and senior guard Ryan Ruffing both started last season for the Jaguars, who have finished no worse than second place the past three seasons.
West Mifflin: The Titans must replace four starters from last year's section champion that led the WPIAL in scoring defense (39.9 ppg), so sophomore guard Ryan Maha (who is expected to miss a few weeks with a knee injury) will be counted on heavily.
OTHERS
Elizabeth Forward: Led by senior center Eric Danko (15 ppg), the Warriors should contend for a playoff spot.
South Park: Senior forward John Sopczyn-ski is the only starter back for the Eagles, who must replace their top two scorers.
Belle Vernon: New coach Eric James takes over for the Leopards, whose only win last season came against East Allegheny.
East Allegheny: The Wildcats also have a new coach in former Valley coach Vern Benson.
TEAM TO BEAT
Montour: Many of the Spartans players still have football on their minds, but when it comes time to hit the hardwood, the defending WPIAL basketball champions could be as good as it gets in Class AAA. Senior guard Dillon Buechel (13.3 ppg) and junior guard Devin Wilson (12.9) were both named all-section last season. Senior Tyler Haas and junior Kevin Scuilli are two other key returnees.
CONTENDERS
Washington: The Little Prexies boast an excellent backcourt of returning starters who averaged double-figures scoring a season ago: juniors Josh Wise and Jaylin Kelly and senior Ethan Gordon.
South Fayette: The Lions have lost nearly all the contributors to teams that won a PIAA championship two seasons ago and advanced to the WPIAL final last season. Junior guard Zach Challingsworth is back.
OTHERS
Ringgold: The Rams won 16 games last season after totaling only five the previous two, and have the look of a playoff contender again with senior forward Mike Beveridge (10 ppg) back.
Trinity: Junior guard-forward Corey Hunsberger and his teammates will need to make up for the loss of Josh Valentic, who averaged 30 points per game last season.
McGuffey: The six wins the Highlanders had last season were their most since 2004-05, and another increase could come this season with the return of senior guard Kyle Rose and three other starters.
Waynesburg: The Raiders went 6-2 in non-section play, but were 0-12 in the section.
Player, School Ht., Class, Pos.
Shawn Anderson, New Castle, 6-3, Jr., G
Dillon Buechel, Montour, 6-4, Sr., G
Rocco Contristano, Keystone Oaks, 6-1, Sr., G
Corey Eggleston, New Castle, 5-10, Sr., G
Ryan Gumbita, Mount Pleasant, 6-3, So., G
Colin Luther, Hampton, 6-5, So., F
Ryan Luther, Hampton, 6-6, So., F
Micah Mason, Highlands, 6-2, Sr., G
Cory Ostach, Blackhawk, 6-1, Sr., G
Mark Pilarski, Hampton, 6-5, Sr., C
Tommy Szatkowski, Southmoreland, 5-9, Sr., G
Marcus Thomas, Uniontown, 6-4, Sr., G
Tyrayl Veney, Indiana, 6-3, Sr., G
Devin Wilson Montour 6-3 Sr. G
First Published December 9, 2011 12:00 am
