Sewickley Academy boys basketball hopes momentum continues

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, November 27, 2017 | 11:00 PM

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Winning WPIAL and PIAA Class 2A championships last year did more than produce banners in Sewickley Academy's gym.

It energized an already thriving program.

“There's tremendous excitement in the program. We have over 40 boys out for basketball this year. I am thrilled with the interest. It's absolutely incredible the percentage of students at our school playing basketball. I attribute part of that to the successes of the past few years. It means our practices are full and competitive,” Sewickley Academy coach Win Palmer said. “On the varsity level, the same type of enthusiasm is there. There are so many players who have worked so hard on their games. We have young men who have played a lot at the varsity level and young men who were on the freshman and JV teams last year — it inspired them all.”

The Panthers (25-4) graduated nine seniors from last season's championship squad, including all-state picks Chris Groetsch and Justin Pryor, starter Declan Hickton and top reserve Teddy McClain.

“It was a quality senior class. We lost nine tremendous young men. Replacing them is a major challenge for us,” Palmer said.

All-state junior Nate Ridgeway returns to lead the squad. He averaged 17.3 points last year. Senior Dave Groetsch returns to the starting lineup. Sophomores Isaiah Warfield, Isiah Smith and Jeff Roesing round out the starting five.

“We're very, very comfortable with the starting lineup,” Palmer said. “It gives us five quality starters. All five men can handle the ball and shoot the ball. They give us great flexibility.”

Developing depth is a key for Sewickley Academy and a necessary component for the team's quick style of play. Seniors Will Nocito and Jared Washington will see major minutes.

“We have a healthy group of young men competing for the next spots. That's a key. We're spending a lot of time in practice developing those guys,” Palmer said. “Injuries, foul trouble and illnesses all happen. Plus, we play at such a fast pace that we can't be successful playing just five or seven guys.

“It's fun — I can already see the team starting to bond. We've been having intense practices. Everyone is challenging each other and helping each other. Collectively, we need to be really good.”

Finding cohesiveness could take a while, but the Panthers are used to that process.

“Everyone has to understand how to play the game. Coming off the bench, you have to be able to handle the ball and be a decision maker. Everyone on the team is a decision maker. That takes time to develop,” Palmer said. “That's why we're a much better team later in year than earlier in the year because we need that collective experience.”

The schedule doesn't give Sewickley Academy a break, but that's on purpose.

“We have an incredible schedule out of the section. We play the new Erie High School, Mars, Lincoln Park, Kennedy Catholic, North Catholic and Aliquippa,” Palmer said. “It'll be fun. We're going to be challenged, and I love that. The goal is not to go undefeated. The goal is to get better and learn from our mistakes. It's lot easier to learn those lessons from a loss.”

Palmer looks for the team to improve its defense, as well.

“Because guys worked so hard on their skills, offensively, we really can do amazing things. Defensively, we have to learn to do those same types of amazing things,” Palmer said. “Right now, our offense is way ahead of our defense. To be a championship team, we have to drastically improve our defense.”

The Panthers bring a diverse attack, just like last season.

“We have the type of team where anyone can lead us in scoring on a particular night,” Palmer said. “If a team wants to take away one of our guys, they can because we have others who will step up. To be successful, our guys understand they have to read the situation and go from there.”

Joe Sager is a freelance writer.

Tags: Sewickley Academy