Seton LaSalle dominates section
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Saturday, February 10, 2018 | 12:27 AM
Seton LaSalle is one of the most explosive offensive teams, with one of the lowest defensive averages, in its division.
The formula has resulted in a section title.
The boys basketball team breezed through Section 2-3A with a 10-0 record. Its average margin of victory was 28 points. Its closest decision was a 39-34 win against Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic.
“Our goals each and every year are to compete for the section championship, WPIAL championship and state championship,” Seton LaSalle coach Mark Walsh said. “We talked about improving daily to be included in the teams that will compete for those (goals). Winning the section title is a great reward for all the players' hard work.
“We are really excited because our JV and ninth grade teams are also having great seasons, and we have a number of incoming student athletes who we are really excited about.”
The Rebels closed out their section schedule with a 58-40 win at Brentwood, improving to 15-4 overall. It was Seton's 11th win in 12 games.
Walsh, whose assistants are Mike Canavan, Shawn Trainor, Tyler Trainor, Chris Boyle and ninth grade coach Bill Irvine, has won four section titles in seven years as Seton LaSalle's floor boss.
“To characterize this year's team, I would say it is a hard-working group of players who are a pleasure to spend time with and teach,” Walsh said. “We really like how our team chemistry has come together this year. We believe the players have spent more time together off the court, and the leadership has been strong.”
Five seniors make up the Rebels' starting lineup. They are forward/guard Jakob Richardson, guards Matt Banbury and Nick Deanes and frontcourt players George Mike IV and Kaleb Krebs.
The 6-foot-3 Richardson has averaged around 16.3 points this season. Mike IV scores at a 12.5 ppg clip and regularly attains double figures as the team's leading rebounder.
“George is doing a great job for us on the boards. We always emphasize the importance of rebounding, and George is doing tremendous on it night in and night out,” Walsh said. “Kaleb also doing a wonderful job rebounding and always adds to our team by being a leader with on the court with communication.
“Matt and Nick bring consistency, and both have played very solidly at the guard position doing all the things we ask of them. Michael Bigley, Trevor O'Donnell and Dylan Preston also are doing a good job for us in our rotation. I'm very proud of our team.”
Richardson averaged 13.2 points as a junior and was named a Class 3A player to watch by the Tribune-Review. He is a three-year starter.
“Jakob has meant a lot to our program in his varsity career, and we will miss him,” Walsh said. “We realized on senior night versus Freedom how much time we have spent with these young men over the course of the last three or four years.
“This group of seniors has continued to lay the groundwork for the younger players in our program and have set a great example for them to follow. We will surely miss each one of them, and they really make us laugh.”
Seton LaSalle has been ranked No. 2 in its division for most of the season and should enter the WPIAL playoffs with a high seed.
“We try to emphasize team defense and team rebounding, and we believe these will be keys in the playoffs,” Walsh said. “I try not to look ahead and just focus on daily improvement, but I will tell you we are excited.”
Bigley and Preston are sophomore guards. O'Donnell is a junior forward. Rounding out the team are sophomore guards Jake Verner, Jon Weir and Cole Walsh.
“I have enjoyed this season tremendously, especially since I get to go through this experience with my son, Cole, who is a part of our program every day,” Walsh said. “Our team was able to travel out of state (to New Jersey) over the Christmas holidays and had a wonderful experience.
“Each day, coming to practice is a joy, and the success we have had makes it so much more special. It really makes me proud to see how our boys team supports the girls team and how our girls team supports the boys team. Seton LaSalle is really a special place.”
The WPIAL basketball pairings meeting was held Feb. 13 at the Doubletree Hotel in Greentree. Results were unavailable for this edition.
Lincoln Park, Seton LaSalle, Washington, Aliquippa and Burgettstown are the Tribune-Review's top five ranked teams in Class 3A.
The Rebels defeated Washington, 54-45, in mid-December.
Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.
Tags: Seton-LaSalle
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