Seton LaSalle boys look to improve as season progresses

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, December 14, 2017 | 10:48 PM

The Seton LaSalle boys basketball team was a WPIAL and PIAA qualifier in Class 3A last season.

And all but one player is back from last year's squad.

“Our team is coming along,” coach Mark Walsh said. “The boys are really working hard. We truly love coming to practice every day with them. We think if we can continue to improve daily, we have a chance at a strong season.

“We have been working hard at developing both our offensive and defensive systems, as well as getting players to understand their roles. I would characterize this year's team as a hard-working group that is week by week getting better and better.”

The Rebels have four senior starters back this season, led by 6-foot-3 guard/forward Jakob Richardson, who was named a Class 3A player to watch by the Tribune-Review. Richardson averaged 13.2 points per game last season.

George Mike IV, a senior forward/center, and senior guards Nick Deanes and Matt Banbury also are returning starters. Sophomore guard Michael Bigley started several games last year, as well.

Other players with varsity experience include sophomore guard Dylan Preston and junior forward Trevor O'Donnell, along with sophomore guards Jon Weir, Cole Walsh and Jake Verner.

Lionel Deanes and Kaleb Krebs, both new senior additions to the team, also are expected to contribute.

Deanes, nicknamed “The Train,” is the all-time leading rusher in football in school history. Deanes rambled for 2,112 yards and 25 touchdowns this season and ended his varsity football career with a school-record 5,280 yards on the ground and 56 touchdowns.

Krebs was named All-WPIAL and all-section as a midfielder on the Rebels' soccer team.

The Seton LaSalle hoopsters tipped of the 2017-18 season with a second-place finish in the recent Keystone Oaks tournament.

The Rebels defeated Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 61-54, in the first round, and lost to the host Golden Eagles, 73-63, in the championship game.

Seton LaSalle was paced by Richardson, who racked up 32 total points, and Mike IV, who netted 30 points.

Krebs chipped in with 20 points in the two-day event; Nick Deanes added 16.

Seton LaSalle posted a 7-3 record in Section 2 last season, good for a second-place finish behind Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, at 10-0.

Rounding out the section standings were Avonworth (6-4), Carlynton (5-5), Brentwood (2-8) and Freedom (0-10).

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic is the defending WPIAL Class 3A champion.

The Trojans, who defeated Lincoln Park, 56-51, in last year's WPIAL finals, advanced to the PIAA semifinal round a year ago.

Seton LaSalle cruised past South Park, 75-49, earlier this week behind Mike IV and Richardson, who combined for 45 points.

Mike IV finished with a team-high 27 points; Richardson chipped in with 18.

The Rebels also defeated Washington, 54-45, behind Richardson's 23 points and Bigley's 12.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Seton-LaSalle