Freeport boys basketball hoping to build on last season’s playoff berth

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, November 26, 2017 | 10:42 PM

The Freeport boys basketball team began last season with uncertainty as it took the court with four new starters.

But the Yellowjackets came together throughout the campaign and produced the program's best record since 2010, 15-8, and their first playoff appearance since 2012.

While the season didn't end the way Freeport hoped — with a close loss to South Fayette in the WPIAL Class AA first round — positives were plentiful as it entered the offseason.

Now, with the start of the 2017-18 season 12 days away, three returning starters and a number of other letterwinners have the Yellowjackets poised to challenge for a Section 1-4A title and advance further in the postseason.

“We want to pick up exactly where we left off last year,” Freeport coach Mike Beale said. “The group last year really bought in and took on the roles they needed to fulfill. This group is extremely hungry, and a lot of them are battle-tested.”

Ben Beale and Gavin Skradski return as starters in a group of six seniors.

“We've been going hard since June with workouts and summer and fall leagues,” Ben Beale said. “I really like how things are coming together so far.”

Beale led the team in scoring last year at 16.4 points, and Skradski added 10.2 points.

“We've really been getting after it every single day,” Skradski said. “We're looking forward to the season and hopefully making a deep playoff run.”

Jalen Brown, one of two juniors on the roster, is back as a starter after providing six assists and four steals a game last year.

“Practice is really competitive with a lot of depth,” Brown said. “A lot of guys are fighting for playing time. The younger guys are stepping up.”

Eleven sophomores are on the roster, and coach Beale said several of them are expected to make an impact this season, including Isiah Bauman, Garret Schaffhauser and Aiden Skradski.

Seniors Anthony Aulicino and Brody Cowan are expected to figure prominently in the game plan, and senior Damon Shiring will provide some height at 6-foot-2 as a guard/forward hybrid.

“We're putting the pieces together and trying to find those right combinations,” coach Beale said.

Beale said his rotation can be as much as nine or 10 deep depending on matchups.

“We are playing very fast paced,” he said. “The faster the pace, offensively and defensively, the better it is for us. Because of that, people are going to need breaks, and that creates opportunities for other people. That has made practices so competitive.”

Indiana enters the season as the defending section champion. Last year's matchups between the Indians and Yellowjackets were a prime example of how Freeport improved as the season went on.

Freeport started the season 4-5 overall, and one of the losses was a 73-35 setback at Indiana on Jan. 3.

But when the teams met a little over three weeks later at Freeport, the Yellowjackets posted a 61-57 victory as Ben Beale sank a late 3-pointer that served as the winner.

A-KValley rivals Deer Lakes and Valley joined Indiana and Freeport as WPIAL playoff qualifiers from Section 1.

“We're confident we will be back up there challenging for the section title,” coach Beale said.

“Valley will be strong. Indiana always is strong. Deer Lakes lost a couple of starters, but they always have talent. The team last year really set the bar and put us back on the map. We want to continue to move forward.”

For the first time, Freeport will host a season-opening tip-off tournament, and the games will be Dec. 8 and 9. The field features last year's playoff opponent, South Fayette, and Mercyhurst Prep will make the trip from Erie. Burrell and Johnstown's Westmont Hilltop also are scheduled for the tournament.

The Yellowjackets also will play Class 6A Kiski Area and Armstrong in late January.

“We really wanted to beef up our schedule, play some bigger schools and challenge ourselves,” coach Beale said. “There are a lot of positives happening right now. It's really coming together.”

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

Tags: Freeport