Bethel Park expects good year in basketball
After an 18-7 season, Bethel Park will be hard pressed to surprise people when the 2014-15 boys’ basketball campaign tips off Dec. 5. The Hawks host their own tournament and entertain Thomas Jefferson at 1:30 p.m. Friday during a class assembly.
“We are not flying under the radar,” agreed Ben O’Connor. “So just dealing with the expectations of this year is the area of concern. Expectations are to continue winning every year and to step forward with the program. We have to keep hustling. Our ability to practice like a champion is the key. That’s the toughest thing for any team.”
O’Connor, however, noted his players are up for the challenge because of their passion.
“They love to play. They love being together. Every drill and every practice,” he said. “They are willing to work hard to get to the next level.”
While the Hawks reached the quarterfinals in the WPIAL tournament and even participated in the PIAA playoffs, only to falter both times to eventual district and state champion, New Castle, they have their initial task to tackle. Last winter, the Hawks fell short of obtaining a banner. They finished second in Section 4-AAAA behind rival Upper St. Clair with an 11-3 record.
“We want to continue to take the program to the next step,” O’Connor said. “Last year, we won a playoff game. We were competitive in the section, coming within winning it. But the goal is to win the section and win the WPIAL. It should be the goal every year. Everybody wants to get that medal around their necks.”
Even with experience, and one of the best players in the league, grabbing the gold is a daunting task for the Hawks. For starters, Chartiers Valley rejoins the division. The Colts were WPIAL runners-up last season at the Class AAA level. Plus, the usual rivals return just as much basketball acumen.
“CV is CV,” O’Connor said, noting the Colts’ star, Matty McConnell, a Robert Morris recruit, as well as a transfer from Carlynton. “Lebo will be very good because Joe [David] does a great job and they have a lot of good players,” continued O’Connor, citing the experience of Jonny David, Eddie Jenkins and Patrick Ehland along with Matt Hoffman, who has rejoined the club after a one-year hiatus.
“Peters Township and Canon-McMillan have a lot returning as well. Moon is a sleeper. They have a lot of talent and a new coach. And,” he continued, “it’s weird. USC is under the radar. They actually had a very good off-season. Upper St. Clair handed us one of the few losses we had in the summer league.”
The Hawks don’t lose many games with Joey Mascaro running the offense. The senior guard averaged 18 points and 4.5 assists per game. He is a three-year starter and a four-year player in O’Connor’s program.
“Joey is gifted. He can do a lot. He’s exciting to watch play and he’s exciting to coach. A very talented player,” O’Connor added. “Our only expectation of Joe is for him to be himself. In his role, we want him to be him, play with confidence and have fun. He also needs to be a leader on and off the court.”
Mascaro will share leadership duties with Levi Metheny and Anthony Bomar. Both played key roles in last year’s success. Bomar and Mascaro are two of five seniors on the club. Sam Volpatti, Dan Breit and Jordan Valetti round out the senior class.
Metheny headlines an athletic junior class. The school’s starting quarterback for three seasons, Metheny as well as gridiron teammate, Jake Dixon, may start the season slow as both as still recovering from football injuries. With his 6-5 frame, Dixon gives BP a strong presence on the boards.
Brandon Thorsen, Chance Wright and Josh Duda are expected to be key contributors. Tyler Barnot also represents a talented junior class while Travis Glaser and Aaron Reber are sophomores. James Gmiter and Justin Meis represent the freshman class and could have an impact.
According to O’Connor, how well the new guys do may determine BP’s success. He noted the underclassmen all had ‘tremendous’ off-seasons and they continue to get better. “We look for them to continue to grow and help us in a positive way,” he said.
Though a freshman, Gmiter certainly helped the football team. The 6-5 lineman will help the Hawks inside. “He has good hands and feet,” noted O’Connor. “The secret is to keep him hungry.”
While Mascaro is the team’s only full-time returning starter, Dixon, Metheny, Breit, Volpatti and Bodamar gained plenty of reps as part-time starters.
“Experience and the fact they have all been in the program are our strengths,” O’Connor said. “They understand the roles and expectations of them and what it takes to be part of the program. Everybody on this team is on the same page. This is one of my best overall groups of kids. They could be.”
O’Connor added that because success is yet to be determined.
After the tip-off tournament and an exhibition match with Carrick, the Hawks open section play on the road Dec. 16 at Peters Township, which is coached by former Bethel Park standout Gary Goga. The Hawks host Upper St. Clair on Dec. 19 and visit Mt. Lebanon on Dec. 23 before traveling to Orlando after Christmas to participate in the KSA Tournament at the Disney Sports Complex.
“I promised my kids if they would win in this area, then I would consider going [out of state] to play in a holiday tournament,” O’Connor said. “When I coached at Fox Chapel, it was a great experience. So we are looking forward to it.”
Same can be said about the local action, adds O’Connor.
“It’s going to be a fun section,” he said. “It gets better every year.”