Balla wants Trojans to get off to fast start
California蘑菇视频 Hunter Assad makes a leaping pass between two Monessen during a game last season.
Aaron Balla (right) enters his fourth season as coach of the Trojans.
Fourth-year California boys basketball coach Aaron Balla wants his team to hit the ground running this season.
鈥淲e want to start off winning our home tip-off tournament,鈥� said Balla. 鈥淭hen, we want to build to a section title.鈥�
The Trojans host Propel Montour Dec. 10 in their tip-off opener, before moving into Section 4-AA play against Bentworth, Carmichaels, Frazier, Jefferson-Morgan and Monessen.
鈥淯s, Carmichaels, Frazier and Monessen are the top teams in the section,鈥� Balla said. 鈥淲e want to win the section, and success is our only option this year.
鈥淭he entire team knows what we need to do to accomplish our goals.鈥�
The Trojans return a pair of starters: senior wing Cory Frick, who enters his third year as a starter, and senior guard Hunter Assad, a two-year starter.
The other three starting positions are up for grabs, and Balla mentioned nine players who are vying for those positions or key minutes off the bench.
Guard Drew Thomas and forwards Fred Conrad, Damani Stafford and Mason Sholock, all seniors, junior guards Dom Martini and Caden Powell, junior wing Aiden Lowden, sophomore wing Noah Neal and freshman guard Vinny Manzella make up the group trying to impress Balla and his staff to earn starts or minutes off the bench.
Balla noted what the Trojans need to accomplish for a solid season.
鈥淲e have to remain healthy, but we need to handle our games and control at our pace,鈥� said Balla. 鈥淲e have a mentally strong team from the top down, so that will help.鈥�