Vikings’ Kravits relying on senior group in first year
T.J. Kravits, as with so many other basketball coaches, is navigating his way through issues brought forward because of coronavirus concerns.
Although Kravits is doing so as the first-year coach of the Mount Pleasant boys team, but was able to get to know his new team through conditioning and watching summer league games.
“I was able to get starting with the kids in mid-August,” said Kravits. “I watched them play in a summer league and am familiar with what they had back.”
Kravits is accustomed to the demands in dealing with the ever-evolving issues brought about by the coronavirus. Mount Pleasant got off to a late start practicing as the district reviewed the mask mandate for winter sports athletes.
“I’m an assistant football coach at Franklin Regional, so I’ve been dealing with it. It’s not ideal,” said Kravits, adding, “The kids, honestly, they are (dealing with it). They’re used to adapting to it.
“I have a good group of guys on my staff. The kids are good kids. We have no problem children. They’re doing what I ask.”
Kravits said the transition as the Vikings’ varsity coach has been eased with five solid seniors: Jonas King, Jacob Bungard, Nathan Kubasky, Lucas Toohey and Tyler Salvatore.
“As a coach, it’s easy to come into a season with kids already seasoned,” said Kravits. “Jacob Bungard is a natural basketball player. He has a presence. Jonas King is a low-post presence. He’s 6-5, 225 and runs like a 4.4 40 (yard dash).
“It’s nice to have those options.”
Kravits continued, adding, “You can’t ignore these senior players, (they) are good.”
Kravits said the Vikings are “guard heavy,” with King the lone presence under the basket.
“We definitely want to run. We have a good big man in Jonas King. We want to dictate the tempo of the game, but too many turnovers defeat the purpose,” explained Kravits. “We’ll switch up defense.
“We won’t have too deep of a rotation, seven or eight (player) rotation. We want to give kids an opportunity to play and get experience.”
Kravits isn’t sure how that dynamic will play out, especially since the program won’t field a ninth-grad team, moving freshman into the varsity/junior varsity program.
The Vikings finished third in Section 1-AAAA last year with a 5-5 mark and advanced to the WPIAL playoffs with a 12-11 record. Mount Pleasant was moved to Section 3-AAAA this season with Belle Vernon, Elizabeth Forward, South Park, Southmoreland, Uniontown and Yough.
“Belle Vernon played in the finals last year and Uniontown is always good,” said Kravits.
The one uncertainty, of course, is the impact coronavirus will have on the winter slate of sports.
“Things don’t look great out there, let’s be honest,” said Kravits. “I really hope for their sake we get through this, especially the seniors.聽
“We will do everything we can do to play the game.”