Kiski Area boys retool after winning section title

By: Antonio Rossetti
Sunday, November 23, 2025 | 4:35 PM

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Kiski Area won the WPIAL Section 2-5A title last season with an impressive 12-1 record. The Cavaliers want to repeat that success after their first section crown in 12 years.

Kiski Area returns one starter in senior point guard Amaree Gonzalez. Nevertheless, the Cavaliers have much to look forward to as they have had ample turnout with nearly 20 players at every open gym. A majority of those players have played together for years, including a loaded sophomore class.

Gonzalez thinks chemistry will be a key to success.

“My older brother Isaiah and I have been shooting for that section, so last year getting it was amazing,” Gonzalez said. “I feel like keeping that chemistry from last year and continuing to grow as a team and play as a unit will be important.”

Coach Corey Smith is going into his fifth season with the team. He knows there will be a target on his team’s back.

“We have a spotlight on us,” Smith said. “Our team is going to be circled on the other teams’ schedules. I thought that a lot of teams took us lightly last year and really didn’t respect us and how we play and how hard we play, but it’s going to be a difficult year this year. We’re at the top as of now because we won the section last year, but I only have one returning starter from last year’s section team. We have a lot of rebuilding that we’re doing.”

Tyler McDermott, Collin Keller and Carson Heinle graduated, so Kiski Area will rely on Gonzalez.

“Amaree is very important when it comes to not only the offense but getting us scoring,” Smith said. “He’s our leader. He’s the coach on the floor. He gets everyone going with his energy that he brings every single day in practice, his positive energy and his positive mindset. He continues to work on his game and also getting his teammates involved.”

Gonzalez was the team’s facilitator last season and one of the team’s leading scorers as he averaged 12 points along with six assists, four rebounds and two steals.

“I took that leadership role last year,” Gonzalez said. “It’s a brand-new team, but I have played with all of them since my freshman year. My younger brother (Angel), I’ve been playing with him and the kids around him forever, so we will be all right.”

Senior Aven Shirley and junior Teegan Shirley, who made an impact last season, return, this time as starters. Their experience will be crucial on a young team.

“They just get it done,” Smith said. “They’re probably our two smartest kids on the floor when it comes to basketball. They are never out of position. They know every single play.”

Smith said when he shows the players the 40-50 plays in his playbook, some may shy away or be intimidated, but the Shirleys are confident in learning it.

Teegan Shirley provides height for Kiski Area, along with Corrado Hutcherson-Harris.

Sophomore Landyn Hartman, who is also Kiski’s quarterback for football, will start. Smith said he will have an immediate impact because of his athleticism.

Sophomore small forward Luca Malaspina played varsity last season. Sophomores Daevion McNeil, who stands 6-foot-3, and Tytan Logero are expected to log minutes.

Amaree looks forward to playing with his brother, junior guard Angel Gonzalez. He said he gives the team a spark and provides shooting.

Junior DJ Lindenfelser is another guard Gonzalez is impressed with.

“He should take a pretty big role,” he said. “He played in the playoff game against Latrobe last year. He played decently, but more will come with experience.”

Smith said a young team can bring energy and a hunger to win. It’s just about getting them up to the speed of the varsity level.

He added that the team has depth for up-tempo defense, so they’ll press a lot.

“I have it down that 15 kids could possibly be getting time for varsity this year,” Smith said. “How much time? That’s on them, but I feel comfortable with 15 names right now that I could put down, put any five out on the floor, and we can be competitive. With the numbers, we could sub more, we could press more. That just depends on what type of team they want to be this year.”

The numbers will help the Cavaliers maintain energy on defense.

“I feel like there’s no dropoff in our bench,” Gonzalez said. “We go 10, maybe 11 deep and defense is huge. We were a big defensive team, always pressuring the ball, switching defenses, so kids get tired fast. Fresh bodies coming in every couple minutes will be really big for us.”

The Cavaliers have been at it since the summer as they played in the Caveman summer league. Smith bolstered the nonconference schedule, preparing the team to defend its section title.

“We’re playing all the heavy hitters,” he said. “From the Butlers to the Upper St. Clairs. From McKeesport to Fox Chapel and Knoch. We got them all on the schedule this year. I’m welcoming everybody to Kiski. We’re going to get on the road, and we’re going to play, and then when it comes January for our section play, we should be ready to go.”

Kiski Area boys at a glance

Coach: Corey Smith

Last year’s record: 15-7 (12-1 in Section 2-5A)

Returning starters: Amaree Gonzalez (Sr., G)

Top newcomers: Daevion McNeil (So., F), Tytan Logero (So., G)

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

12.2, Butler, 7 p.m.

12.5, TBD^, TBD

12.6, TBD^, TBD

12.9, at Franklin Regional, 7:30 p.m.

12.11, Shady Side Academy, 7 p.m.

12.16, Indiana*, 7 p.m.

12.19, at Hampton*, 7:30 p.m.

12.20, Knoch#, 1:30 p.m.

12.22, Armstrong*, 7 p.m.

12.29, Neighborhood Academy+, 2:30 p.m.

12.30, Fox Chapel+, 1:30 p.m.

1.3, at McKeesport, 7:30 p.m.

1.5, at Shaler*, 7 p.m.

1.9, Plum*, 7 p.m.

1.13, at Penn Hills*, 7:30 p.m.

1.20, at Indiana*, 7:30 p.m.

1.23, Hampton*, 7 p.m.

1.27, at Armstrong*, 7:30 p.m.

1.30, Shaler*, 7 p.m.

2.3, at Plum*, 7:30 p.m.

2.5, Penn Hills*, 7 p.m.

*Section game

^Upper. St. Clair tip-off tournament

#At LaRoche

+Shady Side Academy holiday tournament

Tags: Kiski Area