New coach likes commitment he sees from Leechburg girls

By: Antonio Rossetti
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 | 5:08 PM

The Leechburg girls basketball team made the playoffs with an 8-11 record last season. This year, the Blue Devils want nothing more than to make it back.

The Blue Devils won four out of six games from Jan. 15 to Feb. 1, which helped punch their ticket into the postseason. Leechburg fell to Monessen in the first round but is hungry to return, this time with new coach Allen “Chuck” Langston at the helm.

Langston played basketball for Westinghouse High School, Penn State Beaver and CCAC Boyce in the 1980s. He finished his basketball career at Pitt-Johnstown, where he became a grad assistant and eventually an admissions counselor at the university.

After coaching in the Moon basketball program in the early 2000s, Langston most recently worked at Cornell, where he coached multiple teams, including head coaching the girls team until 2020.

He loves what he’s seen of the Leechburg girls.

“We’ve had some open gyms, and the girls have bought in,” Langston said. “Our numbers aren’t like the big schools. We don’t have 30, but I know right now, I have 10 quality young ladies that are showing me that they are committed and they want to get better and want to represent their school district. We made a promise to one another too, that we were going to work together to make some magic happen.”

Last season, Leechburg rostered six seniors, including Ava and Grace Roberts.

Although losing six seniors turns over most of the core, Langston sees players stepping up.

Junior Addie Zanotto tallied minutes as a starter last season. Senior Josalyn Collini, junior Hayven Lookabaugh and Zanotto are three players Langston sees as leaders.

“I’m really looking forward to them accepting the challenge of stepping up and being leaders,” Langston said. “We plan on our day-to-day grind of getting better. If we get 1% better every day, we did our jobs.”

Langston said he respects the team’s work ethic and sees a roster where all 10 players are battling for playing time. With one senior, Langston looks forward to seeing the Blue Devils grow in the future.

“I really look forward to the years down the road too, because we do have youth,” Langston said. “I have four freshmen right now, and they’re already showing promise. I’d love to see them piggyback off what they’re seeing, and even more, just get used to a culture that they can call their own in years to come.”

Langston said he enjoys coaching girls who remind him of himself as a player.

“I played with a lot of passion, a lot of spirit and everything too,” Langston said. “I see that these young ladies have those same attributes, on top of being committed to doing well, wanting to play out and wanting to feel good about yourself while representing your school district.”

As for strategy, Langston wants to be a defense-first team with a more up-tempo defense.

“If they are a running team, we’re making sure we’re filling gaps for everything by playing players straight up with aggressive hands and aggressive feet as much as we possibly can,” Langston said.

Langston knows that good defense will put the Blue Devils in position to get transition points.

Most importantly, though, Langston said he wants the girls to have fun. He said watching them play and getting to know them has been a blessing.

He is looking for a few things from his team this season.

“First and foremost, I want them to give it their all,” Langston said. “You can’t ask anything more from a player but to give their all.”

He is also looking forward to seeing them grow.

“I’m probably looking so much more forward to our practices in regards to our development too, so we can be prepared,” Langston said. “I really hope it turns out the way that the girls see it more than anything else. I have a vision, and I know I’m probably one of the most optimistic people in the world, but I don’t believe in failure. I believe in progress. It makes everything better.”

Leechburg girls at a glance

Coach: Allen “Chuck” Langston

Last year’s record: 8-11 (3-5)

Returning starters: None

Top newcomers: Jaida Skwirut (Fr., C/F) and Abigail Rollinger (Fr, G.)

Tags: Leechburg