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Intangibles key to Chartiers Valley boys’ hoop success

By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 4 min read
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Chartiers Valley looks to transform last year’s 8-15 record back into a winning pattern that produced a 22-4 campaign that included a WPIAL runner-up finish during Brandon Sensor’s first season as boys basketball coach.

The Colts will rely upon the intangibles to do so. Things like unity and camaraderie promise to be the CV’s secret weapons this winter.

“There’s so much more to winning games that just showing up and playing,” said Sensor, who added that he’s learned throughout his career that it’s more than basketball.

“How close your team is off the court and how they treat each other will have a direct correlation with how well they play together. The more they care about each other, the more they are going to play the game the right way.”

The Colts bonded during a busy offseason that included skill development, team practices, AAU games, lifting weights not to mention speed and agility work.

“This group was very committed this offseason and we’ve gotten a lot better and closer as a unit because of that. We also have set aside each week some time to work on our culture, which is really important.

“This group is great to coach and they’re doing the right things,” added Sensor. “They have learned from last year’s experience. They know there are things we have to correct and do better if we want to be competitive and reach our goals. So far the guys have done a wonderful job with all that.”

Currently, the Colts are focused on playing good team basketball on offense and defense and developing their team culture. Those goals, says Sensor, are more important than anything else. He admits the Colts do have enough talent to win games and make the playoffs but they must work on the aforementioned goals to make that happen.

CV’s talent begins with Jayden Davis. As a freshman, he earned all-section as well as Almanac MVP honors by averaging 27 points per game. In addition to being one of the WPIAL’s top scorers, Davis averaged six rebounds, four assists and four steals per game.

Seniors Drew Sleva (11 ppg, 3 rpg and 2 assists) and Brendan Cruz (4.4 ppg, 4 rpg, and two assists) will be back in the starting lineup but senior Joey Zajicek (9.4 points) suffered a knee injury and is out for the year.

Sensor is keen on four players making the jump from junior varsity. A junior, Rudy Morris, saw the most varsity action last year as CV’s sixth man. Gionni Jones and TJ Kubiscek, both 6-2 juniors, possess nice size and have shown marked improvement. Another junior, Jaxon Specht is a scrappy guard that plays hard and has a balanced game on both ends of the court.

CV boasts a strong freshmen class and a few of those players could contribute early. According to Sensor, Danny Slizik and Julian Semplice are skilled players who can really defend. So, he anticipates they will earn some varsity time.

While the four juniors and two freshman will be in the varsity rotation, Sensor sees freshmen Jake Lewis, Julius Best and Logan Helfrick along with sophomore Ethan Henderson also having an impact.

The Colts also will rely on senior Dylan Marian and freshman Lucas Miranda as well as sophomores Jake Federouch, Tristan Mulligan, Matthew Kowatic and Dom Pagliari.

“We are deep,” Sensor said. “As of now, I could see us playing up to nine or 10 guys, which means we can really exert a lot of energy and play uptempo.

“We are guard heavy with skill, too. We can space the court with shooters and we have some guys that can really attack the basket.

“On defense we have a few guys that can flat out guard and some other that really take pride in it too,” Sensor continued. “So, we should really be able to get after teams on defense.”

While the Colts continue to tweak those facets of the game as well as their physicality, they will familiarize themselves with new opponents in the revamped classification.

North Hills joins the division. The Indians were 26-2 as well as WPIAL runners-up and PIAA quarterfinalists at the Class 6A level last season.

Mars was the undefeated section champion and finished 21-3 overall. The Planets were back-to-back Class 5A champions in 2018 and 2019.

Also in Section 4 are geographical rivals South Fayette, Moon, which won a WPIAL title in 2017, and West Allegheny.

“North Hills and Mars both will be tough,” predicted Sensor. “Moon will be a lot better as well, and I’d never count out South Fayette.”

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