Latrobe boys basketball not impressed with top billing

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, January 14, 2019 | 6:36 PM

Latrobe respects the fact it is the No. 1-ranked boys basketball team in Class 6A.

But don’t expect the Wildcats to romanticize or gloat about being the top dog in the WPIAL’s largest classification.

“It’s just the Trib’s opinion of us,” senior swingman Bryce Butler said. “It’s just a number at the end of the day and doesn’t matter. We just know we have a target on our backs.”

But that is, ahem, just one player’s opinion.

Regardless of how they feel about it, the Wildcats (11-2) have handled their lofty position quite well since ascending to the top just before Christmas.

The fast-paced Wildcats, who average 71.5 points per game, are 4-0 and in first place in Section 3.

“We really don’t make a whole lot (out of the rankings),” Wildcats coach Brad Wetzel said. “We just know that if we slip up, (No. 1) will go to someone else. Now, come February (when the playoffs begin) we wouldn’t mind having (the No. 1 seed) because it puts you in a situation that makes your path a little easier.”

Seniors Reed Fenton and Butler continually make for one of the best scoring tandems in the state. Fenton, a Lehigh commit, averages about 22 points and Butler, headed to West Liberty, 21.

Butler had 29 against Penn-Trafford and Norwin.

But it’s the supporting cast that has helped Latrobe uphold the top spot and keep them planted firmly in the team-to-beat conversation.

“A big contributing factor to how we play down the road is how the guys play who aren’t in the starting lineup,” Wetzel said. “Reed and Bryce are a great one-two punch, but we have gotten contributions from a number of other guys and they know how we play. Our M.O. is baseline-to-baseline all night.”

Latrobe scores quickly and often builds double-digit leads before opponents can counter. Teams have traded hoops with the Wildcats, a by-product of a run-and-gun style, but Latrobe has continued to push the pace and force teams to run with them.

“If we’re up 40 or down 40, we’re going to play the same way,” senior guard Alex Bisignani said. “We’re not going to pull it out and slow it down. Coach always says, ‘Deliver that first punch.’ ”

Junior Michael Noonan and senior Trent Holler have added depth to the frontcourt, and senior Noah Belak, junior Ethan Jacquet, and sophomores Ryan Sickenberger and Drew Clair have been valuable in the backcourt.

Latrobe began the season No. 2 behind Pine-Richland but jumped ahead of the Rams with a 5-0 start that included wins over Canon-McMillan, Gateway and Penn Hills.

“You look at our section,” Penn-Trafford coach Jim Rocco said. “You have the teams, like Latrobe, that are sort of the annointed. And the rest of us, it’s much more wide open. Latrobe is excellent because they have two Division I players. You have two Division I players, you have to be the favorite to win it all.”

Despite an 89-60 loss to Allderdice, a team many believe is one of the best in the state, the Wildcats held on to the top spot.

They went 2-1 at a tournament in Elmira, N.Y., losing to St. Stephens and St. Agnes (Va.), 96-50, in the championship game of the elite division.

“That team was the best I have ever played against, AAU, high school, wherever,” Fenton said. “They were unbelievable.”

Wetzel said a tough schedule at the start of the season would help chisel his team into a playoff-ready bunch. That schedule won’t provide much relief with games at Hempfield and against highly regarded Abington (District 1) on Saturday at the MLK Weekend Showcase at Woodland Hills.

The second half of section play starts Jan. 22 at Fox Chapel.

“We know we have to be able to go deep (down the bench), so it’s been nice to test our guys with playoff-atmosphere kind of games,” Butler said. “It’s all been a learning experience.”

Section teams will try to recalibrate for a second dose of Latrobe.

“With Fenton and Butler, I mean they are really impressive,” Norwin coach Lynn Washowich said. “They are just a really good basketball team that knows how to play well together.”

Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

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