Latrobe boys seek milestone win for coach Brad Wetzel

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 | 6:15 PM

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Set to travel more than 400 miles round-trip Friday for its PIAA Class 5A boys basketball playoff opener, Latrobe has another number on its mind.

The number 300 is more significant to the Wildcats, the sixth-place team from the WPIAL who will play their first state playoff game since 2017.

That is because longtime coach Brad Wetzel needs one win to reach 300 career wins at his alma mater.

Latrobe (20-6) plays at Exeter Township (14-11), the runner-up in District 3, in Reading.

“It would be nice to get the 300th,” said Wetzel, who took over the program in 2002. “I think our guys are ready. The proof is in the pudding.”

After a college career that was split between two-year stints at Pitt-Bradford and Saint Vincent — and a pro tryout with a team in the World Basketball League — Wetzel warmed up to coaching.

Now in his 23rd season, he has seen his team battle through a gauntlet this postseason. In the quarterfinals, the Wildcats lost to Montour (60-52), which, at the time, was the No. 1-ranked team in the state in 5A and the top seed in 5A.

The Wildcats fell three times to nemesis Uniontown, twice in section play (81-53 and 64-45) and again in the WPIAL fifth-place game (69-38).

“They’re our kryptonite,” Wetzel said. “We may have to play them differently if we get the opportunity play them again.”

Their other setbacks were a pair of two-point losses in section against Penn-Trafford (54-52) and Franklin Regional (73-71, OT), both on last-second shots.

Latrobe beat Moon in the consolation first round, 62-53, before running into Uniontown again.

If nothing else, the Wildcats are battle tested and recharged. They returned to the postseason after a three-year absence and want to prolong Wetzel’s second 20-win season.

The coach won his 200th game in 2017, when Latrobe finished 19-4. It fell to WPIAL champion Pine-Richland in the state first round 83-82.

“This group is ready for the challenge,” Wetzel said. “I feel like things are falling into place. We had the Indiana trip … the Moon win was big for us. I think our guys have clear eyes about the whole thing.”

Unlike the WPIAL playoffs, where teams that reach the quarterfinals drop into the consolation bracket to play back for PIAA seeding, the state tournament is single elimination.

“There’s no tomorrow,” Wetzel said. “Survive and advance.”

Wetzel dispelled recent rumors that this is his last season. He said his plans are to come back next year.

The coach, in his 34th overall in coaching, has led Latrobe to the PIAA playoffs three times but has not won in the state tournament.

He was part of two state wins as a player, however, including in 1987 when he was a senior guard for the Wildcats.

That was the team’s last PIAA win. After an 87-56 win over Johnstown at Hempfield, the Wildcats lost to Farrell, 50-48, in the second round.

In 1985, after Latrobe won its only WPIAL title, the Wildcats beat Meadville, 84-58, before falling to Farrell, 63-61.

Latrobe has never reached the state quarterfinals.

“We’re super amped-up, and we’ve had some good practices,” current senior guard Max Butler said. “We want to be the team that went the farthest in states out of Latrobe.”

Latrobe will make a day out of its first PIAA appearance since 2017. The itinerary has the team meeting at the high school for a walkthrough, followed by breakfast. Itwill hit the road around 9:30 a.m., stop at Albright College for a shoot-around, have lunch, then head to the game.

Instead of staying the night, the Wildcats will head home right after the game.

“Hopefully, it’s a rowdy bus ride home,” Wetzel said.

Butler said its not the length of the bus ride that matters, it’s the fact Latrobe is still playing.

“The long ride doesn’t bother us,” he said. “We’d do anything to keep playing.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

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