Latrobe boys looking to bounce back from disappointing season
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Tuesday, November 19, 2024 | 1:01 AM
Latrobe boys basketball coach Brad Wetzel puts his team through a drill at practice Monday.
Latrobe coach Brad Wetzel talks to his team before practice Monday.
Latrobe’s Kyle McNeil (left) and Max Butler do a drill at practice Monday.
Latrobe boys basketball coach Brad Wetzel (right) talks to his son, John, before practice Monday.
It was an unusual season in 2023-24 for the Latrobe boys basketball team.
Not only did the Wildcats miss the WPIAL playoffs, but they also had an injury-plagued season and finished with a rare losing record.
The Wildcats were 8-13 overall and 3-7 in the section, dropping their last five Section 1-5A games.
They opened section play with consecutive wins against Kiski Area and McKeesport. After a two-point loss to WPIAL champion Franklin Regional and a loss to Penn-Trafford, they defeated Gateway.
Then things went downhill.
“We, me included, didn’t handle adversity well,” Latrobe coach Brad Wetzel said. “We had four football players get banged up, and it took them a while to heal.
“We would play well against some and not against teams we should have beaten. We never found our groove.”
Wetzel said the fact that they dropped a two-point game against Franklin Regional and beat Gateway on the road proved they were good enough to compete against the top teams in the section.
With four seniors back, there is a good reason to think things should return to normal.
Wetzel returns is son, John, a senior guard who averaged 11 points and 3.5 assists per game; senior guard Max Butler, who averaged 10.5 points and four rebounds per game; junior forward Ian DeCerb; and senior guard Kyle McNeil.
“I’m encouraged that guys put in a lot of work in the offseason,” Wetzel said. “Ian put on good weight and is a lot stronger.
“Last year was a tough pill to swallow for all of us. We’re in a much better place.”
Realignment by the PIAA resulted in a shuffle of teams in Latrobe’s section.
The Wildcats — along with Franklin Regional, Gateway, McKeesport and Penn-Trafford — will be heading to Fayette County to play section games against Albert Gallatin, Laurel Highlands and a very good Uniontown squad.
“The section creates a new challenge,” Wetzel said. “We’re more experienced, and we should be able to handle it.
“Our depth is better, and, hopefully, we will be in sync. We are already healthier.”
Senior Alex Tatsch will miss the season for the second year in a row because of an injury.
Latrobe boys at a glance
Coach: Brad Wetzel
Last year’s record: 8-13 (3-7 Section 1-5A)
Returning starters: John Wetzel (Sr., G), Ian DeCerb (Jr., F), Kyle McNeil (Sr., G), Max Butler (Sr., G).
Top newcomers: Andy Tatsch (Jr., F), Brady Prohovic (Sr., G), Sawyer Butina (Jr., PG), Dom Scarton (So., F), Owen Teslovich (Jr., F).
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
Tags: Latrobe
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