PIAA boys basketball season preview 2024-25: What to know, top storylines about every Butler County-area team
The high school basketball season is nearly upon us — and things on the hardwood are going to look a little different in some locales in the Butler County area. More than 1/3 of the programs are guided by coaches in either their first or second year at the helm.
Now is the time of the preseason where coaches get excited about most of their lineup coming back or head to the whiteboard to figure out how to get younger players accustomed to the grind ahead.
The Butler Eagle sports section has you covered before the shots even start to fall. Take a look at what each team looks like before the first tip of the season.
Coach: Jess Quinn (2nd year)
Key players: Noah Will, sr., G; Joe Rapp, so., G Colbin Elliott, jr., F
What to know: The Falcons are going to score in a different manner this season.
“We lost a good bit of size and experience,” Quinn said. “Jay (Clover) was our offensive threat last year, and at 6-foot-4 was a presence in the paint. We don’t have that this season. We will have to rely on our quickness and speed and get the ball up the court quickly and shoot very well.”
Will and Rapp had their fair share of varsity minutes last year and will shoulder the load with that experience.
Along with the key players, Aidan Fox and Ryan Armogost, both juniors, are expected to be contributors. Noah Ithen and Owen Rottman are expected to step up as sophomores.
Coach: Matt Clement (16th year)
Key players: Andrew Gettinger, jr., G; Ayden Andrews, sr., G; Tayt Lucas, sr., G; Stainton Forbes, jr., G/F
What to know: For the first time in a while, Butler doesn’t have one star. And maybe that’s a good thing.
“I’m cautiously optimistic,” Clement said. “I really like my team. I like who I have here. ... The leadership, the chemistry. There’s a lot of selflessness. ... I’m just seeing some qualities of a good team. I think that a lot of people are going to think that we’re not going to be very good, and that’s fine. We have to prove that we’re very good.”
Juniors Jace Gratzmiller, Mavrik Clement, Kyle Casteel and Tobias Geibel and senior Tanner Pry are other guys who will see some time. The elder Clement is encouraged by his team’s belief in his guidance.
“If I came out tomorrow — purposely — came out and ran the dumbest play in the world, they’re going to believe in it,” Coach Clement said.
Coach: Rich Macura (2nd year, 7-15)
Key players: Dempsey Cowan, sr., G; Sean Selinger, sr., F; Carson Kane, jr., G; Danny King, so., F
What to know: The Yellowjackets’ road to the postseason will be one full of pitfalls. With guys such as seniors Cowan and Selinger, Macura’s crew is up for the task.
“I think our section, which is realigned, is local for the most part, which we really like,” Macura said. “But at the same time, we’ve got Knoch and North Catholic in it, which (are) going to be the two front-runners. Then you’ve got Deer Lakes and Burrell, who just came off of playing in the WPIAL championship.
“We are expecting to make a run for a playoff spot and, with our very grueling non-section schedule, plan to be ready for battle come February.”
Sophomores Bryson Paga (G) and Mike Graczyk (F) also have varsity starts under the belt. Freeport reached the playoffs last year, giving what is now a younger team what could be a valuable experience to build off this time around.
Coach: Zach Kepple (4th year)
Key players: Cole Johnston, so., F; Shane Peters, sr., F
What to know: The Gremlins graduated five important contributors from last season’s team, which opens the door for others to step up.
“We’re always looking forward to that situation because you never know who it’s going to be,” Kepple said. “It could be someone you don’t necessarily expect. Maybe we’ll be super balanced this year. ... It’ll be fun to see how players develop here early on and as we start the season.”
Johnston missed half of last season with an injury suffered playing football, but turned in some solid playoff minutes down the stretch. Peters was essentially a full-time starter and a mismatch problem for opponents. Seniors Jacob Jones and Gus Harmon will also factor into the lineup.
Coach: Alan Bauman (5th year)
Key players: Jackson Bauman, jr., G; Teegan Finucan, jr., G/F; Derek Lang, jr., G/F; Zane Pacek, jr., F
What to know: The Knights return four starters in the younger Bauman, Finucan, Lang and Pacek. Each are all two-year letter-winners who are being counted on to provide leadership. If not for senior Kaden Spencer injuring his elbow during the football season, Knoch would be reloading its starting five from a year ago.
Pacek, a 7-footer, averaged seven points and as many rebounds last season. Lang, 6-8, was good for 13 points and five boards per outing. Bauman feels his side’s height and length will help in rotations.
“We can do different things,” he said. “Just the length. No matter what, we’re not going to have anyone smaller than about 6-2 in our starting lineup. We’re long and active, and that’s a positive for us.”
Either junior Vincent DeFelice and sophomore Liam Avon figure to slide into the remaining starting position.
Coach: Kobe Phillippi (1st year)
Key players: Austin Campbell, sr., G; Drew Navetta, sr., G; Will Wilson, sr., F
What to know: Phillippi took notice of the banners hanging in Mars’ gym. He hopes to add to them while putting his own twist on the program.
“His history speaks for itself,” Phillippi said of his predecessor, Rob Carmody. “To quote Mike Tomlin, the standard is the standard here at Mars basketball, and it’s because of what he did the last 26 years.”
None of the Planets’ five starters have been penciled in, but Campbell, a Grove City College commit, figures to be one of them. Juniors Ben Detisch (F) and Austen Wroblewski (G) will have a role. As will classmate Sean Franklin, a big body who plays left tackle for the football team.
“I think you’re going to see a couple different styles,” Phillippi said. “We’re not going to do the same thing every single game.”
Coach: Mike Jewart (7th year)
Key players: Connor Ealy, sr., G; Brendin Sankey, jr., G/F
What to know: All five starters from the Warriors’ District 9 Class 3A title team are gone. Only two letter-winners remain.
“We are starting from scratch,” Jewart said. “We’re rebuilding. There’s going to be a lot of young players.”
Juniors Ian Ross and Blaine Jamison are in the mix to start, but the team is without a clear face at an important spot.
“Point guard is going to be an issue,” Jewart said. “I think Ealy will be running it a little bit, but we’re going to need some other ball-handlers out there. It’s going to be a point guard by committee to a certain extent.”
Braden Beachem, injured during the first practice of football season, is nearing being cleared to play. Jewart said he can provide some size and strength down low. Sophomores Brennan Kelly and Carson Minnear and freshmen Isaac Book and Weston Cook all have potential to get some looks at guard.
Coach: Jim Rocco (4th year)
Key players: Owen Maddalon, sr., G; Jason Fredericks, jr., G
What to know: The Trojans find themselves in a similar position.
“It’s very similar to last year,” Rocco said. “We, of course, lost a pretty good senior class, but we had some core guys that played a lot. We generally play a lot of kids, so we have kids that are coming back with experience on how we like to play.”
If North Catholic is to replicate the success it enjoyed last year, the application of that know-how will be a big reason why.
“We have so many kids that will be able to get deflections and loose balls and that move the ball,” Rocco said. “They’re always handling the ball. So many kids get so many touches that when it’s sort of their turn to be the guy, hopefully they’re a little bit more prepared.”
Coach: Kevin Trost (7th year)
Key players: Tyler Pepin, sr., G; Owen Congdon jr., F; Andrew Omasits, jr., G
What to know: Looking around the Raiders’ gym, there are a lot of familiar faces. Pepin, Congdon, Omasits, and junior forwards Jaxon Householder, Nico Santapau and Ryan Priester played a lot of minutes for Seneca Valley last winter.
“I think it’ll be a big help,” Trost said. “Last year, we had 18 players on our roster and 14 of them were freshmen and sophomores. ... I feel like we’re still young, but we’re an experienced young.”
The Raiders went 7-15 (3-7 in section) last year. They should be better accustomed this year.
“I think we’re going to have a deep team,” Trost said. “We’re going to play a fun style and play a lot of guys. ... Our kids at Seneca, we’ve put in a lot of time in the offseason, and the kids have worked really hard. I’m hopeful that it pays off for them in the season.”
Coach: AJ Motta (6th year)
Key players: Josh Book, sr., F; Max Kovacik, sr., G; Anderson Franco, sr., G; Braden King, sr., F
What to know: The Rockets’ quartet of key players are all returning senior starters.
“We had a great year last year, and to bring back a lot of those pieces bodes well for us,” Motta said. “In terms of the season, our expectations are high. They are every year, but by bringing back so many guys and having some guys have a year of maturity under their belt ... we expect a better season.”
Kovacik will be the team’s point guard, while Book, the Butler Eagle’s 2023-24 Boys Basketball Co-Player of the Year, figures to be the team’s top weapon. Juniors Doug Popovec (G/F), Casey Darr (G), Sawyer Allen (F) and Tyler Rice (G/F) and sophomore Freddy Campagna (G/F) provide depth.
“We can go 10 deep this year,” Motta said. “Last year, we played five guys the entire game. For us, having that versatility and being able to play the hot hand ... that will be really advantageous for us this year.”
Coach: Trey Sharpe (6th year, 37-55)
What to know: Nobody who will step on the hardwood for the Knights this year wore a Summit Academy uniform a season ago. The turnover is nothing new. Neither are the lessons imparted.
“Respect, that’s the main thing I’m trying to teach these kids,” Sharpe said. “Just being decent, good young men. They already got a bad rep because they’re locked up and getting a second chance, so I’m really trying to get them back on the right track (by) teaching them about life and life skills.
“I use basketball just as a tool to get the kids to open up to me.”
From an Xs and Os standpoint, Sharpe would like to see a sense of team unity.
“I want everybody to see that we’re one,” he said. “We’re going to pick each other up. We’re going to be respectful to the other team. We’re going to play hard basketball.”
Coach: Logan Pistorious (1st year)
Key players: Owen Bish, sr., G/F; Gage Jordan, sr., F; Christian Salizzonni, sr., G; Trent Fleming, jr., G
What to know: Pistorious coached the past two seasons as an assistant under Zach Kepple at Karns City. He also coached the junior high team for the Knights.
Bish, Jordan and Salizzoni make up a base that helped lift Union to consecutive state playoff appearances.
“They bring a lot to the table,” Pistorious said. “I think they all can be leaders in their own right. I look to make some changes to the program — put in a couple different offensive styles, run a couple different defenses. With that leadership and experience, it’s going to be easy to make that transition for them.”
Fleming showed promise before an injury cut his season shot last year. He’ll be a boost to the team this time around. Fellow juniors Jorge Reyes (F/G) and Jackson Renwick (G) and sophomores Easton Reinsel (F/G) and Max Johnson (G) should also see the floor a good deal.
