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Dec 17, 2023 By Rob Burchianti 3 min read

Shea Fleenor enters his 12th season as head coach of the Albert Gallatin boys basketball team with a youthful squad that includes only three seniors.

One of those, team leader and multi-year starter Blake White, fought back from an injury and was cleared to play just before the season began. He came off the bench in the Colonials’ opener against Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at Falcon Fest on Dec. 1 and scored 12 points in a 48-42 loss.

“We just got Blake White back,” Fleenor said. “We played a competitive game and had the lead early on. I would’ve liked to play them later in the season when Blake was more up to speed.

“But OLSH has that mentality, they have that confidence and you could sense that from them.”

Albert Gallatin’s starting lineup in its opener included senior Mykel Belt, juniors JJ Jackson and Shymere Wilson, sophomore Evan Strimel and freshman Tyrone Burton. Wilson, a guard, scored a team-high 15 points. Belt and Strimel are also guards while Jackson and Burton are forwards.

White, a forward, was set to join the starting lineup soon after.

“Blake’s a veteran player and our team leader,” Fleenor said. “He’s been a big part of our program as a four-year letterman,” Fleenor said.

Other members of the varsity roster are senior Malachi Thompson, sophomores Chase White, Adam Pegg and Ethan Kennedy, and freshmen Mekhi Belt and Darrin Ford.

A fourth senior, Kam Pratt will miss the season due to injury, and promising sophomore guard Isaac Ellsworth transferred to Uniontown.

“Kam is still coming to the games and supporting the team,” Fleenor said.

“We’re young and inexperienced. We’re trying to feel our way. We have a lot of new faces in the mix. We have to build and give ourselves a chance.”

Fleenor sees bright futures for the 6-foot-4 Jackson as well as Burton.

“JJ can cause matchup problems because he can go out and face the basket and hit a jump shot,” Fleenor said. “Tyrone worked really hard in the offseason to get in shape and will play in the post for us.”

The Colonials rebounded from the loss to OLSH with an 84-34 rout of Beth-Center at Falcon Fest, then lost 79-48 to South Allegheny which was coming off victories over Serra Catholic and Belle Vernon. White led AG with 17 points against the Chargers and Mykel Belt had 14.

Albert Gallatin opens section play against a pair of Fayette County rivals.

“We play Uniontown (Jan. 2 at home) and Laurel Highlands (Jan. 5 away) right off the bat,” Fleenor said.

The Colonials were 3-15 last season and 0-10 in Section 3-AAAA which again also includes Belle Vernon, Southmoreland and Elizabeth Forward.

“Uniontown is obviously very good,” Fleenor said. “Belle Vernon, from what I heard Quinton Martin will play only a few games, if any, and I know they still have Zion Moore but when you take away an athlete like Martin from a team that’s got to have an effect. Southmoreland has a great scorer in Ty Keffer and they’re always well coached. Laurel Highlands will of course be a lot different this year without (Rodney) Gallageher and (Keondre) DeShields.

“We’ll play hard, do the best we can and see what happens.”