Southmoreland hopes to capitalize on last season’s experience

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, December 1, 2018 | 9:12 PM

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The 2017 season went as well as it could have for the Southmoreland boys basketball team given the lack of depth and experience.

The Scotties finished 4-18 overall, 3-9 in second-to-last place in Section 4-3A.

Coach Frank Muccino — entering his 10th year with the program — sees a silver lining in the experience his squad attained and the depth it has built.

The Scotties will have five players who saw significant starting time last year and have reserves on the bench who also gained invaluable varsity experience.

“This is probably the deepest roster I’ve had as far as talented kids up and down the roster,” Muccino said. “We’ve had some pretty good teams in the recent past, but we were top-heavy, talent-wise.

“This roster has more depth and quality players up and down the roster. It’s exciting for me to have a lot more options.”

Seniors Cade Richter, Ronnie Robinson, Brett Glowacki and Dalton Anderson along with junior Riley Comforti will try help push the program past its recent struggles.

The offense should run through Comforti, whom Muccino expects to improve on his 10-point average from last season. Richter and Robinson provide athleticism that will help speed up the game in transition.

Anderson, a natural point guard, will run the offense and utilize his ability to penetrate to find open shooters, including Glowacki — perhaps the best shooter on the team.

“Our group has all played together since we were little so we have chemistry, and adding the varsity experience to that is going to be a big help in winning some games this year,” Comforti said. “Last year none of us had any varsity experience, and we were thrown into the fire with no idea what was going on.

“This year we have an idea of what’s coming and definitely know how to play the game and know what’s coming.”

Muccino said he hopes the experience will alleviate some of last season’s problems. Atop that list of problems were an inability to keep up with the speed of play and a lack of rebounds.

Southmoreland gave up a section-worst 69 points per game, and Muccino attributes that to not playing solid man-to-man defense and giving up second and third chance points derived from offensive rebounds.

“We know what we need to do to get better, and with that experience, it’ll come,” he said. “These kids know the game, and the game doesn’t change much. It just gets faster.

“You have to play at that faster speed, and if we can improve on the boards and play a tougher defense I think we can be a competitive team this year.”

The Scotties tip off the season against nonsection foe Waynesburg on Dec. 11.

Brian Graham is a freelance writer.

Tags: Southmoreland