Experienced Belle Vernon boys basketball team eyes deeper playoff run

By: Antonio Rossetti
Monday, November 11, 2024 | 3:02 PM

The Belle Vernon boys basketball team finished second in Section 3-4A last season, posting a 12-9 overall record, along with a 7-3 section mark.

Despite the success, the Leopards fell short of their goals, losing to South Allegheny in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.

Coach Joe Salvino and the rest of the Leopards’ staff and players are longing for a better outcome this winter.

“I think it was very disappointing,” Salvino said. “I thought that we would go a little bit further than we did. We just couldn’t do what needed to be done in that playoff game. I think everybody’s anxious because everybody is back and seeing what we did for the most part last year. Everybody’s looking forward to the season.”

Zion Moore, who won the WPIAL scoring title last year after averaging 26.3 points per game, is heading into his senior season. Salvino is excited to see how Moore performs.

Tommy Davis, a 6-foot-6 forward, also returns to bolstering the Leopards’ frontcourt.

“He came into his own, especially towards the end of the year last year,” Salvino said. “He looked very good in the summertime, and that’s a plus for us, because we need somebody like him.”

Trevor Kovatch also turned it up at the end of last season. Kovatch tallied 19 points as Bell Vernon handed Uniontown its first section loss.

Alonzo Wade, a standout in football and basketball, returns as well.

“I think everybody knows one another very well,” Salvino said. “I think that our team play ought to be good. Some of the people are shooting the ball fairly well at this particular time of the year. Again, if Tommy Davis stays healthy, I think that he’s going to contribute.

“Hopefully, our defense is better than it was last year — and I think it will be — because I think that everybody understands what needs to be done.”

Salvino wants to push an up-tempo defense that will focus on half-court traps.

“They lead to turnovers, and you could get a lot of transition points off your defense,” Salvino said. “That’s one of the things that we definitely need to work on a little bit better this year than we did last year. … Our kids took time off during the defense part of the play and focused more on the offensive part of the play, so, hopefully, this year we could combine both and get more transition points.”

With the core of the team returning, the team chemistry will play a role.

“I just think the concept of team play, that’s a very big benefit,” Salvino said. “Everybody should know one another, what they can and cannot do, playing as a team, not as individuals. They should know who is scoring and try to get them the ball as much as possible. … I’m not saying one person is going to score all the time, but I’m just saying that in time and situations, they know where the ball should be.”

Salvino enjoys coaching Belle Vernon and loves the toughness of the players.

“When I first came in (from Monessen), I was worried about how much these young kids who don’t really know me, if they’re going to adapt or be able to adapt to the system that I’m bringing, and they’ve done very well with that,” Salvino said. “I’m proud of those kids. They work hard. Of course, football has a lot to do with that too with that winning attitude with football, and they try to bring that back over to basketball.”

Salvino is eagerly anticipating the start of the season Nov. 15.

“We take one game at a time,” Salvino said. “We want to try to win our section and try to move on from there. Everybody wants to be in that championship game, but you can’t pass on any given opponent, so we have to take one game at a time. If we do that, and we’re doing well, then, eventually, we will get there.”

Belle Vernon boys at a glance

Coach: Joe Salvino

Last year’s record: 12-9 (7-3 Section 3-4A)

Returning starters: Zion Moore (sr., G), Tommy Davis (so., F), Trevor Kovatch (sr., G), Alonzo Wade (sr., G), Curtis Wade (jr., G)

Tags: Belle Vernon