After lean years, Apollo-Ridge boys basketball coach believes team is ready for big season

By: Michael Love
Monday, November 11, 2024 | 5:29 PM

Winning has been hard to come by for the Apollo-Ridge boys basketball in recent seasons.

The Vikings have seven victories combined the past three years and are mired in a 29-game section losing streak. But seventh-year coach Greg Fox is sounding the bell of optimism.

“The enthusiasm and the way the kids worked in the offseason, they know what is in front of them and the opportunities they have to make a difference in how well this team can compete this season,” Fox said. “They, obviously, want to improve on the past couple of years.”

The Vikings, 2-20 overall last year, graduated a number of players, including leading scorer Karter Schrock (11.5 points, 6.0 rebounds per game). Another part-time contributor and starter last year, Mykel Hardmon, transferred to Kiski Area for his senior season.

Two starters return: junior guard/forward Breydon Orvosh and senior center Tyler Bartell.

Orvosh led the team in 3-pointers with 17 and averaged 4.0 points a game. He hit a season-best four threes against Valley.

Orvosh started the season as a reserve, and in his first game as a starter, against Burrell, he scored a personal season-best 17 points.

“He got more starting opportunities as the season went on, and he did really well for us,” Fox said. “He shot the ball more and also was one of our better defensive players.”

Of the three seniors on the roster, only one — Bartell — was part of the team last year.

There also are nine juniors, 10 sophomores, and a pair of freshmen battling for varsity time.

“The guys put in a lot of time in the offseason, during the open gyms in the summer and the summer league games,” Fox said. “We also had a lot of non-football players come in the fall. We have a lot of younger kids who know they are going to get the opportunity to play varsity ball. They are hungry for playing time.”

Junior point guard Brayden Myers and fellow junior Zane Beatty, a center/forward, sharpened their skills through playing on AAU teams in the spring.

“They put a lot of time in during the summer and fall,” Fox said. “They both have improved so much since last year.”

Myers said the team is pumped up and ready to go.

“I think the amount of time we put in during the offseason will help make this year different,” he said. “Practices are really competitive, and everyone is fighting for playing time. This team has played together since elementary school, and, now, this is our year to come together and show what we can do.”

Fox said the rotation can go nine or 10 deep with a lot of position flexibility. Others Fox said will be counted on include junior guards Nathan Fryer, Alex Clawson and Kolson Grguric; sophomore guard Logen Schrock; and junior guards Nathan Leeman and Tanor Snyder.

“We have different packages on how we’re going to attack teams,” Fox said. “We want to go up-tempo, and we have the athletes to do that. We can put five kids out there who can really press on defense and create turnovers. We have big guys who can play outside and guards who can play inside, too.”

The Vikings will be road warriors in their revamped section. They will share Section 3-3A with Seton LaSalle, Shady Side Academy, South Allegheny, South Park and Steel Valley.

Shady Side advanced to the WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinals last year, and South Allegheny did the same in Class 4A. South Park and Seton LaSalle were playoff qualifiers.

“The section is loaded with a lot of talented teams,” Fox said. “The travel is ridiculous. Every road game is far.”

“Seton LaSalle and South Park are new to us. South Allegheny has been good for the past seven or eight years. Shady Side is Shady Side. They are consistent. We know Steel Valley has some really good athletes.”

Apollo-Ridge kicks off its season Nov. 29 and 30 at the annual Leechburg Tip-Off Tournament.

“A number of the kids are playing big varsity minutes for the first time, so it will be interesting to see how they interact in games, especially early on,” Fox said.

Apollo-Ridge boys basketball at a glance

Coach: Greg Fox (seventh season)

Last year’s record: 2-20 (0-12 Section 3-3A)

Returning starters: Breydon Orvosh (Jr., G/F), Tyler Bartell (Sr., C)

Top newcomers: Kolson Grguric (Jr., G), Alex Clawson (Jr., G)

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge