Ligonier Valley boys to start year short-handed

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, December 5, 2017 | 8:12 PM

Ligonier Valley will start the boys basketball season against Greensburg Salem on Friday short-handed.

That's because two starters — Jackson Daugherty and Aaron Tutino — are still recovering from injuries sustained in the PIAA Class 2A football quarterfinal loss to Dunmore late last month.

Tutino, a junior, might not be ready until January after injuring his left calf. Daugherty, a senior and three-year letterman, twisted both ankles in the game and has not been cleared to practice.

So Ligonier Valley coach Todd Hepner will lean on sophomore guard Michael Marinchak and junior center Marrek Paola to carry the load. The dynamic duo led the Rams in scoring last season when the team finished 17-7 overall and 11-2 in the District 6 Heritage Conference.

The 6-foot-6 Paola averaged 18.4 points and 7.7 rebounds, and Marinchak averaged 11.8 points and had a team-high 86 assists.

Marinchak is a fast-paced guard who likes to push the ball up the court and attack the basket. Paola is mobile for a center and added strength should increase his toughness under the basket, Hepner said.

Ligonier Valley, which plays in Class 3A, lost to Bellwood-Antis in the District 6 opening round. The Rams fell to Saltsburg in the conference title game at IUP's Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex.

“With Jackson and Aaron out, I'm counting on Michael and Marrek to elevate the rest of the team,” Hepner said. “Both have played in a lot of big games. They should be able to lead the team.”

Hepner plans to start seniors Jake Andrews and Andrew Pleskovitch and is undecided about the fifth starter. Sophomore Jaxon Ludwig and junior Pedro Herrera are competing for the job.

“On paper, we should be OK,” said Hepner, who must replace four players lost to graduation — his son Trent, Collin Smith, Josh Boyd and Trent Stewart. “Jackson is a four-year player who has experience and knowledge of what we like to do. Aaron promises me he'll be ready.”

Hepner wouldn't commit to being the Heritage Conference favorite, but he said the Rams should challenge for the top spot in the conference once everyone returns.

Saltsburg won the conference title in 2016-17, but it graduated four of five starters.

“Homer-Center, Purchase Line and Blairsville will be tough,” Hepner said. “The conference should be very tough, a lot of parity.

“We have a lot of work to do. We have some new faces that must adjust to the speed of the game.”

And once Daugherty and Tutino return, the Rams could be tough to beat.

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.

Tags: Ligonier Valley