Baldwin boys basketball ready to defend section championship

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, December 7, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Baldwin’s boys basketball team enjoyed a dream season in 2024-25.

Until disaster struck in the first round of the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs.

The Highlanders raced through the regular season with an exhilarating 21-1 record that included nine- and 12-game winning streaks.

And a section championship.

Baldwin landed the WPIAL’s No. 2 seed for the WPIAL playoffs but was shocked by No. 15 Penn-Trafford, 60-45, at home in the opening round. P-T advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals and PIAA first round and ended up 14-13 overall.

“I was very proud of our guys last year; 21 wins is an exceptional season,” Baldwin coach Jeff Ackermann said. “We are not going to let one playoff loss define our season. We did not advance as far as we were hoping, but we did not play well enough to advance.

“We were very disappointed to lose in the first round. We had played well all year and beat some very good teams. Everyone was very disappointed, but playoff wins are not guaranteed. During my career, I have been blessed to coach in many great games. I have had some wins that I will never forget, and I have had some losses that I will never forget.”

With a large group of seniors on last year’s team, the Highlanders tipped off their 2025-26 schedule with just two returning starting guards in Max Marzina and E.J. Golvash. Both were second-team all-section selections last winter.

“E.J. and Max are two of our captains along with Gavin Sakely,” Ackermann said. “E.J. and Max have both put so much time into their games. They are both high-level, hard-nosed athletes. I have huge expectations for both of them.”

Ackermann is looking for team leadership from Marzina, a 6-foot senior, and Golvash, a 5-11 junior, as well as from Gavin Sakely, a 5-10 senior guard, and 5-11 senior forward Nico Macurak

Two notable newcomers to the lineup are Sadiq Anderson, a 5-11 sophomore guard, and Trey Alario, a 6-1 senior forward.

Other players looking to help out include senior Taye O’Toole, a 5-8 guard, and juniors Josh Desroses, a 6-3 forward, and Jaxon Otto, a 6-2 guard.

The sophomore class on this year’s team is a strong one. It includes Anderson, 5-10 guard Austin Barrett, 6-1 guard Julian Noone, 5-8 point guard Chris Kozar, 6-5 forward Torin Eddy and 6-4 forward Bryson Smolko.

Baldwin won last year’s Section 3-5A title with an 11-1 record, followed by Peters Township (9-3), South Fayette (9-3), Thomas Jefferson (5-7), Bethel Park (4-8), Trinity (3-9) and Ringgold (1-11).

“We expect to be very competitive again this year,” Ackermann said. “Our goal as we develop our program is to compete for a section championship every year. We also want to compete for a WPIAL championship every year, as well.

“We have 13 sophomores in the program right now. We need to develop that group and get them to understand what it takes to compete at the varsity level.”

Nine seniors graduated from last year’s team at Baldwin.

Tags: Baldwin