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Dec 18, 2023 By John Sacco 3 min read

A return to the WPIAL Class A playoffs is the aim for the West Greene High School boys basketball team in the 2023-24 season.

The Pioneers failed to qualify last season, breaking a school-record, seven-year run of making it to the postseason tournament. The Pioneers went 5-17 overall last season and were 2-8 in section play.

Coach Jim Romanus will rely on three juniors to help lead West Greene back to the playoffs.

West Greene’s top returning players are juniors Lane Allison, a 6-1 guard, forward Parker Burns (6-2), and guard Patrick Durbin (6-0).

Romanus said the team’s strength is its athleticism, while the weakness is youth.

The remaining varsity players include three sophomores and four freshmen.

Romanus said he wants to see “consistent individual and team improvement” this season and that should be an important factor in the Pioneers claiming a postseason spot.

West Greene will compete in Section 2-A with California, Geibel Catholic, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown and Monessen. Last season, Geibel and Monessen shared the section championship.

Romanus picked Monessen as the top team with Geibel second and the rest of the field finishing anywhere from third through sixth place

According to Romanus, the Pioneers will rely on Allison, who started some games as a freshman and every game as a sophomore, averaging 21 points per game. He was named to the all-section team as a sophomore in 2023.

Burns also started some games as a freshman and every game as a sophomore.He led the team in rebounds.

Durbin started some games as a freshman and every game as point guard in his sophomore season. Romanus said that when Durbin was a freshman, “he was our best defender and passer.”

“”Unfortunately, Patrick sustained a football injury and we are hopeful he will return by early January,” the veteran coach said. “Our first goal is to get Patrick back as early as possible.

“(We want) our sophomores and freshmen to improve enough to help the juniors and get us back to the playoffs.”

Burns averaged 8.5 rebounds per game with Durbin adding 3.6 assists a game. Allison led the team with 481 points and a 31 percent 3-point field goal percentage, in addition to 46 steals.

Other members of the Pioneers roster include senior center Noah Webster (6-0), and sophomores Darren Knight, center Matt Wassil (6-7), guard Will Shipman (5-10), forward Gavin Cassiday (5-8) and forward Mark Gaines (6-0).

Freshmen on the roster are forward Chaucer Von Scio (5-11), guard Landen Hill (5-10), forward Noble Campbell (5-11), and guard Joey Blair (5-11).

West Greene’s non-section games include Avella, Frazier, McGuffey, Waynesburg Central, Hundred (W.Va.), Propel Braddock Hills, Cameron (W.Va.), and Bentworth.