North Allegheny boys close books on another short season

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, February 16, 2018 | 11:00 PM

Circumstances made developing continuity difficult for the North Allegheny boys basketball team. Three of the Tigers' most experienced players spent much of the season on the disabled list.

Ray Sandherr (eight), Curtis Aiken (seven) and Zach Johnson (one) missed 16 games because of injury. Losing five of their last six games kept the Tigers out of the playoffs for the second time in three years in a competitive Section 1-6A.

Second-year coach Keith Noftz saw glimpses of promise from North Allegheny (8-13, 4-8) during its final section game. The Tigers toppled North Hills on Feb. 9 and did so with heavy contributions from underclassmen.

Sophomore Justin Altmeyer and Mike Iuzillino scored 17 points apiece.

“We just wanted to build confidence with them moving into next year,” Noftz said. “We need to communicate as a team. Basketball isn't an individual sport. We need to play together and share the basketball. The nights we did that, we were competitive. The nights we didn't, we weren't.”

The lack of three heavy hitters reared its head on offense. Aiken led the team by averaging 17.8 points, and Sandherr (9.6) and Johnson (8.6) came next in the leaders. Johnson was also the team's leading rebounder, pulling down 7.6 boards per game.

Iuzillino (7.4 points per game) and Anthony Hattrup (6.2) were the only other players who scored more than five points per contest.

To make up the gap, Noftz tried to encourage a balanced approach.

“Without a doubt, we've preached it all year,” Noftz said. “You have to play together and be a team.”

North Allegheny was also snake-bitten early in the section schedule. The Tigers, who lost their first four section games, surrendered a double-digit lead during a game against Butler on Jan. 9. North Allegheny also was tripped up by Central Catholic at the buzzer.

Following three straight section wins over Seneca Valley, North Hills and Shaler, the Tigers never recaptured that magic.

North Allegheny dropped four of its final five section games by 10 points or more.

Noftz wants to see everyone refocus during the offseason.

“We have to get everyone the same page,” Noftz said. “Hopefully, we've learned the lesson that they don't want to go through another year like this year. It's about playing together and working hard in the offseason to be competitive next year.”

Josh Rizzo is a freelance writer.

Tags: North Allegheny