After spending offseason bonding, Derry boys ready to tackle great expectations

By: Dave Mackall
Monday, November 24, 2025 | 1:25 PM

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For nearly eight months since breaking from the grind of another high school basketball season, the Derry boys team has been bonding. As in getting better acquainted.

On and off the court.

It’s not a unique idea — many teams subscribe — but it’s a concept the Trojans have been emphasizing with concentrated might.

“We’ve had most of our team since April, and we’ve been going at it pretty hard,” Trojans coach Tom Esposito said. “We played 29 games during the summer and fall. You can’t replicate game experience in practice.”

From summer camps, to fall leagues, to tournaments, Derry’s players and coaches have been immersed in the game of roundball.

The Trojans have been having a ball with or without leading scorer Stanley Rajkovich, who spent much of the summer on the AAU circuit.

“We do have expectations. We feel we are better than last year,” Esposito said. “But we have to keep that in perspective. We’re a veteran team with three solid starters and the majority of our team returning.”

The 6-foot-7 Rajkovich averaged 19.1 points and 8.9 rebounds as a sophomore at Derry, which is looking to improve on a 12-10 record that included a season-ending loss to Central Valley in the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs.

Senior guard Brayden Robinson (10.3 ppg) and sophomore guard Logan Irvin are Derry’s other full-time returning starters. Senior guard Izak Lenhart at times was among the Trojans’ starting five.

“In the offense we run, everybody gets their touches and everybody gets a green light if they have a great open shot,” Esposito said. “We encourage them to take it. Our offense is team-oriented.

“But of course, we’re going to look for Stanley in certain situations, as well as Brayden and Logan. All three have skill sets that we use in certain situations.”

With expectations soaring, Esposito stacked Derry’s schedule to prepare for a deep playoff run.

“We just played at the New Castle Shootout (in October),” he said, pointing out that the Class 3A Trojans, with Rajkovich accompanying the team, came away with victories over Class 6A North Allegheny and Class 5A Laurel Highlands.

“It was a great time of bonding for the team,” Esposito said. “We treated it like a road trip.”

The team enjoyed a meal, went to a golf driving range and lodged overnight in a hotel.

He’s optimistic that the experiences of the summer will reward Derry with more success in another season in Section 3-4A, where Esposito is hopeful the Trojans can improve on their third-place finish.

The seven-team section also includes returning champion Belle Vernon, which finished a game ahead of second-place Elizabeth Forward and went on to win a WPIAL championship.

The Leopards said goodbye to 2,000-point scorer Zion Moore, who is playing at the junior college level at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, Montgomery County.

Derry’s schedule includes tournament games at Burrell and Indiana with potential matchups with Freeport, Indiana, Class 6A Connellsville, PIAA District 9-5A Punxsutawney and District 6-3A Forest Hills and Westmont Hilltop.

The Trojans also will face Deer Lakes and Class 3A Southmoreland.

“Our section is going to be very, very competitive and interesting,” Esposito said. “We’re going to have to keep our focus on each day as they come along and not just the season as a whole.”

Derry boys at a glance

Coach: Tom Esposito

Last year’s record: 12-10 (8-4 Section 3-4A)

Returning starters: Logan Irvin (So., PG), Izak Lenhart (Sr., G), Stanley Rajkovich (Jr., F), Brayden Robinson (Sr., G)

Others to watch: Liam McMahen (Jr., G), William Stockett-Harter (Sr., F)

Top newcomers: Hudson Fridley (So., G), Parker Petrosky (Jr., G)

SCHEDULE

11.28, TBD^

11.29, TBD^

12.3, at Freeport, 7:30 p.m.

12.4, Forest Hills, 7 p.m.

12.9, Connellsville, 7:30 p.m.

12.12, at East Allegheny*, 7:30 p.m.

12.13, Mt. Pleasant+, 1:30 p.m.

12.16, Greensburg Salem*, 7:15 p.m.

12.19, at Belle Vernon*, 7 p.m.

12.23, West Mifflin*, 7:15 p.m.

12.29, River Valley#, 6 p.m.

12.30, TBD#

1.6, at Yough*, 7:30 p.m.

1.9, at Deer Lakes, 7:30 p.m.

1.13, Elizabeth Forward*, 7:15 p.m.

1.16, East Allegheny*, 7:15 p.m.

1.20, at Greensburg Salem*, 7:30 p.m.

1.23, Belle Vernon*, 7:15 p.m.

1.27, at West Mifflin*, 7:15 p.m.

1.30, Yough*, 7:15 p.m.

2.6, at Elizabeth Forward*, 7:30 p.m.

2.9, at Southmoreland, 7 p.m.

*Section game

^Burrell tipoff tournament

+WCCA Showcase

#Indiana tournament

Tags: Derry Area