Expectations have never been higher at Monessen
Monessen’s Lavalle Rush (5) is looking to lead the Greyhounds to a second straight WPIAL Class A championship.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter California’s Kass Taylor shoots while Union’s Trevon Charles tries to block during the first half of Tuesday night’s game.
Joe Salvino has never been in this position before. Thirty-one playoff appearances in 31 seasons with five WPIAL titles in a school district that loves boys basketball cannot prepare Monessen’s head coach for the challenge.
The Greyhounds return the bulk of a roster that made winning the WPIAL title last season look easy, mercy-ruling every section opponent along the way. The expectations have never been higher in the Mon Valley, and while some coaches would be thrilled to have returning players like LaValle Rush, Justice Rice and Jaden Altomore, Salvino isn’t relaxed.
“I’m a little bit hesitant and leery of the season,” Salvino said. “I know how hard it is to repeat, especially with returning people. We have to get to the level of knowing how hard it was to get to where we were last year to get there again. I’m probably a little more worried than anything else because the expectations are so high.”
Monessen repeated as PIAA champions in 1988 and 89, and won back-to-back WPIAL titles in 2000 and 2001, but the narrative and circumstances are different. The 1989 Greyhounds had only one returning starter in a season that ended with a state title and in 2001, it was a group of players who were reserves the year before.
One could argue that no team in the WPIAL returns a nucleus like Monessen. Senior guard LaValle Rush averaged 18 points per game, junior guard Justice Rice had 13.1 average and Jaden Altomore added 12.9. All three are key to Salvino’s pressure-heavy defense that forces opponents into mistakes.
Senior Dwight Moore and junior Jaron Youngblood are among the returnees who played a role in last season’s title run, but it’s the experience of the big three that will be the key.
“It seems like they’ve been there for a long time and I’m sure opposing coaches feel the same way,” Salvino said. “A lot of these kids were there and sometimes they know what it actually takes. They’re the ones who have to put forth the effort. Every game will be a challenge because of the bull’s eye on our back.”
Not only will rising programs in the section such as California be focusing on the Greyhounds, but Monessen’s non-section opponents also will try to avoid being the latest team to struggle against the defending Class A champions.
It started early with Monessen’s loss to Upper St. Clair in overtime to start the season, but Rush’s buzzer-beating shot from the baseline led to a double-overtime win over Chartiers Valley – the defending Class AAAA champion – Saturday night. The victory came after years competing against Quad-A teams and falling short, but Salvino said prior to the season that he believed the Greyhounds were ready to win those games.
The win won’t help with the expectations, but it could alleviate Salvino’s anxiety. In both performances, Rush, Rice and Altomore led the way with the supporting cast doing their part.
“If they have the type of games they are capable of playing, then everything else will fall into place,” Salvino said of the trio. “Everybody else’s role will be that much easier and will make our team that much better.”
As the Trojans progressed through preseason practices and prepared to repeat last season’s success, something became apparent to coach Bruno Pappasergi: California is going to miss Atrayo Matthews.
Matthews averaged 16.1 points to help the Trojans reach the PIAA play-in round, where they lost to Cornell.
Pappasergi’s concerns have been alleviated by the return of junior forward Kass Taylor (16.3 ppg). Juniors John DeFranco, JayCee Conaway and Dylan Hammitt also are back.
“Our strength is our four juniors,” Pappasergi said. “They played a whole lot of ball last year and they all started at one time or another. Most of them started every game. Kass is one of the best players in the area, I think. Everyone knows about Kass. They respect his game a whole lot.”
It could be the Tojans’ sophomores – Ryan Bilitski, Jordan Campbell, Dru Miller, Braden Petrucci, Colin Phillips and Ben Wilson – who determine whether or not a playoff run is in the cards.
“Our sophomores are going to be the key to the whole season. I tell them that every day,” ,” Pappasergi said. “If they can step up and play in tight game situations, then we’ll be OK. That inexperience is going to hurt us early. We’re going to be a team that will get better as the season goes on.”
The Eagles did not qualify for the playoffs last season, but senior Cody Dobbin (13 ppg) returns. Avella, which is led by first-year head coach Drew Denham, must replace four starters. Avella will turn to Shawn Willard, Steve Miller, Kevin Painter and Austin Lis to fill the void as the Eagles try to reach the postseason for the first time since 2011.
The Rockets broke a playoff drought last season but lost in the first round to Cornell. J-M must replace one of the program’s top scorers. Rece Henneman is gone after averaging an area-best 25.2 points per game, and four other seniors. Thje Rockets will be led by sophomore guard Dennis Garrett.
The Maples were 2-20 last season but did defeat Carmichaels, a Class AA opponent, late in the season. They lost only two seniors.
The Pioneers could surprise with the return of 6-7 junior center Craig Weaver, who averaged 13.6 points and 12.9 rebounds last season, and 6-4 junior forward Kolton Rush. Losing Bray and Beau Jackson will hurt, but West Greene could return to the playoffs for the first time since 1992.