Despite graduation of star guards, Latrobe boys want another shot at playoff run
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Tuesday, November 28, 2017 | 5:18 PM
Tasked with the challenge of replacing two of the best players to come through the program, Latrobe will have a different look on the court this season.
But don't look for expectations to change.
“If we can become as good as I think we can be,” coach Brad Wetzel said, “we can make some noise. But we have a long way to go.”
A talented group returns and has the potential to keep the Wildcats among the best in Section 3-6A. They shared the section title last season with Penn Hills and Fox Chapel. Latrobe was the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, Fox Chapel was No. 3 and Penn Hills, No. 4.
“People are talking. … They lost Jake (Biss) and Austin (Butler),” Latrobe junior guard Reed Fenton said. “So the days of Latrobe being good are over. Well, we're looking at that as motivation.”
That, and the fact that Latrobe, despite a 19-win season, did not win a playoff game.
The bulletin board is filled up.
“We had a rough go,” Wetzel said. “We ran into the WPIAL champ and (eventual) state runner-up (Pine-Richland). It was a tough draw. But our goals remain the same. We'd like to have another shot in the playoffs.”
The Pine-Richland loss still stings, even if it was one of the most thrilling games Latrobe fans have seen in recent years. The Wildcats came back from 20 points down but lost 83-82 in the PIAA first round.
Austin Butler graduated as the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,905 points. He led the WPIAL in scoring the past two seasons, notching 30 points a clip as a senior. Butler, who also added 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals last winter, is at Holy Cross.
And Biss, the glue point guard who gave the Wildcats 13 points, 6.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds last season, moved on to nationally ranked Shippensburg.
The pair led Latrobe to 58 wins and three section titles.
But Fenton returns to lead a lineup with size and experience. Seniors Markus Dudzenski (6-foot-6) and Jason Armstrong (6-2) are back, along with junior swingman Bryce Butler (6-3).
Fenton also is 6-3.
Think of it like this: Latrobe is hoping to replace Batman and Robin with the Fantastic Four.
“Austin and Jake impacted our program for years,” Wetzel said. “And we lost some other seniors who were very good for our chemistry, too. A lot of it is wait and see.”
Fenton and Bryce Butler are getting attention from Ivy and Patriot league schools. Dudzenski is committed to Division III York.
Fenton had 24 points and five 3-pointers in the loss to Pine-Richland. He averaged 14 points a game as a sophomore. Armstrong, a tenacious rebounder, is likely going to play football in college.
Latrobe averaged 76.3 points last season, playing at a frenetic pace. That style could change at times with the longer lineup.
“We still want to run a certain way, but we'll make some small tweaks,” Wetzel said. “We'll be a lot longer and a little slower. We'll do what we can to utilize our length. We've never had a center. Now we have several guys who can score inside.”
Dudzenski is the center, but who is the point guard?
“That's a good question,” Wetzel said. “We're still trying to figure that out.”
Wetzel said he ideally would like to go about eight deep off the bench. He said other contributors should include junior guard Noah Belak, senior forward Adam Bisignani, junior guard Reese Mueseler, senior forward Mirko Pandini, who is 6-3, and some others.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.
Tags: Latrobe
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