Scotties return 1,000-point scorer Felentzer among 4 starters
A year ago, the Southmoreland boys basketball team won the Section 4-AAA championship with an undefeated 10-0 record, the school’s first section crown since 1992, won a WPIAL playoff game for the first time in eight years, and was close to earning a PIAA berth.
With four starters back from last year’s team, having two top reserves return, and building even more depth, what will coach Frank Muccino and his team do for an encore?
“Repeating (as section champs) is sometimes harder than (winning) the first one,” he said with a laugh. “Teams know what you have, and repeating is the challenge.
“We have to realize that we are going to get everyone’s best game and will definitely have to bring our ‘A’ game this time.”
The four returning starters are all seniors, and the Scotties are led by Noah Felentzer.
Last season, the 6-0 guard averaged 22 points per game and already has 1,117 for his career.
“He is our leader,” Muccino said. “He is what makes us go, and a key will be how much improvement we get from the other guys.
“We have six to eight guys who are able to contribute besides him. The more we get from them, it kind of frees him. We are pushing to get more out of the other guys, so he doesn’t have to do as much.”
Joining Felentzer in the starting lineup are senior Stanley Chapman and guards Brady Sherbondy and Ty Whoric.
“They have been with us for a few years,” said Muccino. “They are hard-working kids and capable of giving us what we need.
“We need Ty to shoot the ball, Brady to handle it and shoot it, and we need Stanley’s physicality, rebounding, and defense.”
The fifth starter will be fellow senior Evan Geyer while a pair of sophomores, Brock Pritts and Luke Stinnett, are like having two more starters.
“They got a lot of playing time last season,” Muccino said of the sophomore duo.
Senior Italian transfer student Andre Panichi, juniors Brendon Geho and Nathan Ngwen, and sophomore Aiden Watkins were also mentioned by Muccino as players who could give the team quality minutes.
“We have to figure out roles early on,” Muccino said of some of the players.
Other teams joining Southmoreland in Section 4-AAA are Brownsville, Charleroi, Ligonier Valley, Mount Pleasant, and Waynesburg.
“Waynesburg and Ligonier Valley are the other top teams,” said Muccino. “Charleroi is much-improved while Brownsville and Mount Pleasant have new coaches and will be better.”
Never one to mince words, Muccino was direct when he mentioned goals for this season.
“Repeat as champs, make the playoffs, get a good seed, win a couple of (WPIAL) games and make a run,” he said. “I think 3A will be open, and I think we are closer to the top level than we have been. “It will take a lot of hard work and improvement. We want to get into states and win a game or two.”