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Now is the time for South Fayette
Talk has circulated throughout the WPIAL basketball community since South Fayette took eventual state champion Jeannette to overtime in last year's WPIAL quarterfinals.
The Lions, with only one senior starter, were instantly tabbed as contenders for the foreseeable future.
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"At the time, we really believe that everyone on that bus thought we'd win that Jeannette game," South Fayette coach Rich Bonnaure said. "Throughout the playoffs, we gave Jeannette the toughest game and it probably opened some eyes."
South Fayette, the defending Section 3-AA champion, got attention with a 21-7 record last year. Only four losses came against Class AA competition and the Lions advanced to the second round of the state tournament before losing to Farrell.
Four starters are back, including 6-5 sophomore Mike Lamberti. He averaged 16.5 points as a freshman and earned a spot on the Observer-Reporter's All-District first team.
"We try to guard ourselves against other people's expectations," Bonnaure said. "Meeting our expectations is not going to be easy. We've set some really huge goals."
South Fayette wants to repeat as Section 3 champion, a feat made more difficult with the addition of perennial power North Catholic. The Lions also have their sights set on winning the rugged WPIAL Class AA championship.
Then, there are those days when the Lions just want to get through practice.
"Our practices are so hard and competitive, it reminds them they haven't done anything until the first game," Bonnaure said. "We had a couple kids who didn't play last year come out this year and it's made practices a blood bath."
The added physical presence is a welcome addition for Bonnaure and his coaching staff, who were concerned about the graduation of center Zach Patterson.
The additional height is also a plus.
Besides Lamberti, South Fayette has four players - Anthony Fontana, Mike Burroughs, Tom Leadbetter and Christian Brumbaugh - standing at 6-3 or taller. It's easily the tallest team Bonnaure has coached in his six years.
Combine the height with the shooting of senior guard Joe Silko (11.7 points) and gritty play of sophomore point guard Pat Zedreck (11.5) and it's no wonder so many like the Lions' chances.
"The thing with Double-A is the quantity of good teams," Bonnaure said. "They are good and they are diversified. One team might go four out, one in and shoot threes and the next is all great athletes or great coaches. It's a heck of a mix, but it's a lot of fun."
Section 3
Fort Cherry
The Rangers lost 10 of their final 12 games under first-year coach Brad Midgley, a former starter at Duquesne University, but they also averaged nearly 57.3 points per game.
Fort Cherry has several returning lettermen, including Zach Bellhy - last year's leading scorer.
Bellhy, a 6-1 guard, averaged 19 points per game a year ago and had a 42-point performance against Bishop Canevin.
Section 5
Burgettstown
A regular on the playoff scene, Burgettstown enters a new era. Former Chartiers-Houston sharpshooter Brenden Cypher is the Blue Devils' coach, replacing Ed Goetz, who retired following six consecutive postseason appearances.
Burgettstown returns lettermen Sean Tunno, Kevin Bielecki and Nick Tasz. They should provide a solid foundation for freshman Dylan Bongiorni, the Blue Devils' starting quarterback, and sophomore Seth Bonacci.
The Blue Devils finished 19-6 last year and lost to WPIAL semifinalist Bishop Canevin in the final seconds of the preliminary round.
California
Two years ago, California played for the WPIAL Class A title. This season, the perennial playoff contenders move up in classification after losing the top two scorers in Donte Valentino and Travis VanOlst from last year's team.
Veteran coach Phil Pergola, who has won a Washington County-record 511 games, will rely on seniors Ben Carson (8.9 points) and Jordan Michaux (6.6 points).
A group of athletic underclassmen, including junior D.J. Martinak and sophomore John Tyler, hope to make California's move to Double-A a smooth transition.
Charleroi
In the first year of his second stint as head coach, Bill Wiltz guided the Cougars to the cusp of the WPIAL playoffs. But season-ending losses to Burgettstown and Washington knocked them into a fifth-place tie with Chartiers-Houston.
Section coaches expect Charleroi to continue its progress this year.
In 6-7 senior Elijah Obade, the Cougars may boast the section's most imposing post player. Add 6-5 sophomore Zach Hook to the mix, and it makes for a potent inside combination.
Chartiers-Houston
The Bucs lost three starters who averaged double figures in points last year, but 6-2 junior Derek McIlvaine (14.0 ppg) provides a nice base for veteran coach Jerry Cypher, Brendan Cypher's father.
Chartiers-Houston hopes junior Ryan Scott, who missed last year with an ACL injury, brings added scoring punch.
There are no seniors on the Chartiers-Houston roster but there are 10 juniors, including 6-6 forward Stan Zavatski, among the eight returning lettermen from a team that finished 12-12 last year.
Monessen
Section coaches agree that Monessen deserves to enter the regular season as the favorite. After all, the Greyhounds won the title last year with a 13-1 record.
Several key cogs are back, including sophomore Terrance Stepoli, junior ShelDon Miller and seniors Matt Wall, Delmar Pritchett and Telly Clark.
After an 0-3 start in 2007-08, Monessen finished with a 19-7 record and reached the PIAA Class AA playoffs, where it lost to Bishop McCort in the first round.
Washington
The Prexies finished in an unfamiliar position last year - second place.
Wash High returns several key players, including starters Nick Bryant, Mark Wise and Troy Wilson. Bryant and Wise are seniors. Wilson is a junior and a starter since his freshman year.
Bryant can run the point and take over the scoring, while Wise provides the muscle inside, often outworking taller opponents for the basketball. Wilson can be a dynamic scorer.
The trio wants to bring back the section title to Washington and head coach Ron Faust, who enters his 28th and final year.
