Sewickley Academy coach, players reflect on special season, PIAA runner-up finish
By:
Sunday, April 6, 2025 | 11:01 AM
Sewickley Academy’s Nolan Donnelly holds the runner-up trophy next to Mamadou Kane after the PIAA Class 2A championship game against LinVille Hill on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Giant Center in Hershey.
Sewickley Academy’s Mamadou Kane dunks against Linville Hill during the PIAA Class 2A championship game on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Giant Center in Hershey.
The Sewickley Academy student section cheers on the Panthers during the PIAA Class 2A championship game on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Giant Center in Hershey.
Sewickley Academy’s Drew Steals shoots a 3-pointer against Linville Hill during the PIAA Class 2A championship game on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Giant Center in Hershey.
Sewickley Academy’sCaiden Battles drives betweem Linville Hill defenders during the PIAA Class 2A championship game on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Giant Center in Hershey.
Sewickley Academy head coach Mike Iuzzolino watches from the bench during the PIAA Class 2A championship game against Linville Hill on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Giant Center in Hershey.
Linville Hill’s Giovanni Sejuste pressures Sewickley Academy’s Mamadou Kane duringcthe PIAA Class 2A championship game on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Giant Center in Hershey.
Sewickley Academy’s Lucas Grimsley battles Linville Hill’s Drew Tibbins for a loose ball during the PIAA Class 2A championship game on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Giant Center in Hershey.
Sewickley Academy’s Mamadou Kane pulls down a rebound in front of Linville Hill’s Stepehn Smucker during the PIAA Class 2A championship game on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Giant Center in Hershey.
Sewickley Academy’s Adam Ikamba dunks against Linville Hill during the PIAA Class 2A championship game on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Giant Center in Hershey.
Sewickley Academy’s Mamadou Kane shoots over Linville Hill defenders as time expires in the PIAA Class 2A championship game on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Giant Center in Hershey.
Sewickley Academy’s Mamadou Kane reacts after his shot fell short as time expired in the PIAA Class 2A championship game against Linville Hill on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Giant Center in Hershey.
Sewickley Academy’s Adam Ikamba dunks against Linville Hill during the PIAA Class 2A championship game on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Giant Center in Hershey.
Sewickley Academy’s Lucas Grimsley drives to the basket against Linville Hill during the PIAA Class 2A championship game on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Giant Center in Hershey.
Sewickley Academy’s Adam Ikamba dunks against Linville Hill during the PIAA Class 2A championship game on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Giant Center in Hershey.
The Sewickley Academy boys basketball team flourished in Mike Iuzzolino’s first year as head coach.
Sewickley made its first PIAA appearance since 2019, advancing to the Class 2A championship game March 28 against District 3 runner-up Linville Hill Christian.
The Panthers lost a crushing 55-54 decision to Linville Hill at Giant Center in Hershey to finish as the state runner-up and 24-6 overall.
“What an amazing experience for these kids this season,” Iuzzolino said.
“To be able to play for a state championship when none of these kids had (previously) won a playoff game or participated in a playoff game is incredible. I know this, this team embodies exactly the values and principles that Sewickley Academy sets for its students. These guys accomplished so much, both on and off the court.
“I am so blessed to be the coach of these great young men. Trust me, it has nothing to do with any win, loss or success this team had during the season. It pertains to the incredible amount of growth I’ve seen in each individual player physically, mentally and collectively. To watch a group of individuals come together as a team with one goal and form lasting friendships and memories, in addition to handling all the things this group had to endure with class and dignity, makes this one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in basketball.”
One of the unsung players on the team was 5-foot-8 junior guard Caiden Battles.
“This is something every player dreams of — playing in a state championship game,” Battles said. “It’s a very special accomplishment. This was a goal my teammates and I had this year, and we worked so hard and prepared for this moment.”
Along with the appearance in the PIAA finals, there were several other highlights for the Sewickley hoopsters in 2024-25.
The Panthers racked up a 7-1 postseason record prior to the loss to Linville Hill, which finished 29-3 overall.
After winning the section with a 12-0 mark, Sewickley ended up third in the WPIAL with victories against Bentworth (59-26), Chartiers-Houston (48-39) and Neshannock (51-37), and a loss to Jeannette (45-25) in the semifinal round.
State playoff wins came against Windber (64-36), Lakeview (56-35), Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (42-35) and Greensburg Central Catholic (52-48).
Along the way, 6-2 senior forward Nolan Donnelly netted his 1,000th career point in the win against OLSH. Donnelly scored a team-high 14 points against the Chargers.
“I will start off by saying I am just so proud of this team and everything we accomplished,” Donnelly said. “Honestly, through my journey here at Sewickley Academy, I cannot believe it, but I do believe that we absolutely deserved to be here. I set scoring 1,000 points as my goal my freshman year, not knowing anything about what lies ahead: Through the loss of a coach and mentor, the not-so-successful seasons followed by a state championship run, injuries and, of course, learning from a new head coach three years in a row. To surpass this milestone was very special for me. It resembles all the friendships, coaches and lifelong memories that Sewickley Academy basketball has brought to me.
“Of course, this would not be possible without the overwhelming support from my parents, the academy, coaches and teammates — especially the three juniors who started alongside me, Lucas (Grimsley), Amare (Spencer) and Caiden; I cannot thank them enough for sticking through this all with me.”
Donnelly was a four-year starter at Sewickley. He plans to study turf-grass science with a minor in business at either Penn State or Tennessee.
“Nolan had a major impact on the success of this team and the program overall,” Iuzzolino said. “He would do all the dirty work and made great sacrifices for the good of the team. He became a 1,000-point scorer and played in the state finals his senior year — what a way to go out.”
Donnelly was one of six different players who led the Panthers in scoring in a game this season. In its five PIAA playoff games, Sewickley had five different leading scorers.
Grimsley, a 6-4 junior forward, connected for 20 points against Windber, 6-8 freshman forward Mamadou Kane had 22 against Lakeview, Donnelly led with 14 against OLSH, Grimsley and Kane shared scoring honors with 17 apiece against GCC.
Six-foot freshman guard Drew Steals and 6-8 sophomore forward Adam Ikamba sparked the Panthers offensively against Linville Hill with 17 and 16 points, respectively. Kane chipped in with 10 points; Ikamba had 13 rebounds.
Battles suffered an injury in the first quarter against the Warriors, giving Steals significant playing time and the opportunity to lead his team in scoring.
“How many freshmen come into a state championship game and do what Drew Steals did?” Iuzzolino said. “He was amazing. He played like a senior.”
On the season, Grimsley was the team’s leading scorer with a 10.6 ppg average.
“I don’t think anyone cares about their averages, which says a lot,” said Spencer, who added, “I want to thank our coaches, teachers and the entire school community for supporting us all season. It means a lot to have people behind us, especially during these big moments. We’ve spent so much time together that this team really feels like a family. We’ve been through a lot, and it brought us even closer.”
It was on defense where the Panthers seemed to focus most of their attention throughout the year.
Sewickley had the stingiest defense in the entire WPIAL with a 38.5 ppg average. Only two other teams — Aliquippa (38.7) in 3A and Upper St. Clair (39.8) in 6A — held opponents to less than 40 ppg in 2024-25.
“Our team takes pride in playing good defense and playing good offense,” Grimsley said. “We probably take the most pride in preparing well, pushing and supporting each other, working hard, being coachable and setting good examples for each another.”
After starting out inconspicuously this season with a 42-40 loss to Nazareth Prep, the Panthers reeled off nine consecutive victories and 15 of 16 to start out 15-2. They ended the regular season at 17-4 and as the No. 2 seed for the WPIAL tournament.
The springboard to the PIAA finals appearance was the four-point decision against GCC.
“That was a hard-fought game,” Grimsley said. “We have a lot of respect for GCC. Qualifying for the state championship game was incredible. Growing up, I’ve attended City League championship games and WPIAL championship games. But I’ve only been to one state championship game (prior to 2025). We went to all of Quaker Valley’s playoff games in 2022, and my family — the six of us — drove to Hershey for the state championship.
“When the buzzer went off in our (GCC) game, it was an amazing feeling. We were so excited. I just remember running, celebrating with teammates and coaches, and jumping around with Nolan. I’ll never forget that, and the locker room celebration after.”
The dramatic PIAA final was tense from start to finish with 11 ties and seven lead changes. Linville Hill led 13-9 after one quarter and 28-27 at halftime. The teams were tied at 40 after three quarters.
Sewickley scored the last basket of the third quarter and opened the fourth with eight consecutive points. A layup by Donnelly capped the run and gave the Panthers a 48-40 advantage with 6:29 remaining.
Linville Hill answered with an 11-2 run to retake the lead.
Kane’s layup with 34 seconds left gave Sewickley a 54-53 edge, but the Warriors responded with a go-ahead basket with 23 seconds to go.
The Panthers had a last-second chance for a win but Kane’s short jumper in the paint bounced away at the buzzer.
“We never focus on outcomes,” Iuzzolino said. “I know with sports when you win, it’s successful; when you lose, it’s not end of story. So, of course, our kids are heartbroken and upset coming up one point short.
“But like I told them afterwards, when you put your heart and soul into something and the outcome doesn’t go your way, it’s supposed to hurt; you are supposed to feel this way. Life will do this same thing to you many times over. Losers get knocked down and stay down. Winners pick themselves up and move on to the next opportunity, the next task at hand.”
Speaking of which, with eight freshmen and two sophomores among its 17 players, the Panthers already are being tabbed as favorites in Class 2A next season.
“I’m not even thinking about next season right now,” Iuzzolino said. “I’m just going to sit back and relax and reflect on what a great season this was because you don’t get a minute to do that when you are going through a season like this one.
“But it won’t be long before we start laying out the plans for next season and what it will take to continually improve and develop these guys. Resting and relaxing is not something I do very well.”
It was the first PIAA appearance for Linville Hill, which didn’t have a high school until 2016. Stephen Smucker scored a game-high 22 points for the Warriors. Giovanni Sejuste had 12 and Drew Tibbins added 10.
Tags: Sewickley Academy
More Basketball
• Pine-Richland hires former college assistant, top WPIAL scorer as boys basketball coach• Fisher’s Files: Quaker Valley coach says Adou Thiero ‘deserving’ of NBA opportunity
• Veteran coach Daryn Freedman takes Ambridge boys basketball job, likes program’s potential
• Catanzaro steps down as Riverview girls basketball coach after 4 seasons
• Scoring Factory set to host basketball skills development program
