Ligonier Valley boys look to continue upward swing

By: Paul Schofield
Thursday, November 27, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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When Dante Porter took over the Ligonier Valley boys basketball team last year, he inherited a program that had won four games each of the two previous seasons.

Ligonier Valley went 13-9 in Porter’s first season, earning a second-place finish in Section 4-3A behind Southmoreland.

The Rams dropped a 72-57 game to Keystone Oaks in the WPIAL playoffs.

Despite the loss and the graduation of leading scorer Parker Hollick and guard Brian Wisnewski, Porter hopes the team will continue to build on that success.

The Rams return three starters — junior point guard Noah Knupp, senior guard Michael Wisnewski and senior center Simeon Pope.

Also back is sixth man Michael Vargulish-Garver, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward Greyson Daugherty, junior guard Tyler Queer and senior forward Levi Moser.

Michael Wisnewski averaged 15 points, Pope seven and Knupp six.

“I definitely have high expectations,” said Porter, who previously was an assistant coach at Geibel Catholic and Berlin Brothersvalley. “We have a lot of talent. We made a big jump last year. We want to build on our success.

“We need Noah to be more aggressive. He is so smart and a leader. We also have some talented ‘bigs.’ Everyone has to take a step forward.”

Porter wants to get the program back to the level it was when assistant coach Michael Marinchak played in the late 2010s, when the Rams were playing for District 6 and Heritage Conference titles.

“We have the players who can help make that jump,” Porter said. “We had a good summer and fall leagues.

“We have improved our depth, and we have a tough and gritty group. We should go eight, nine, 10 deep. Opponents are going to find it tough to play against us for 32 minutes.”

A couple of areas of concern for Porter are being able to control the tempo and limit self-inflicted mistakes.

Porter said he expects Southmoreland will be tough to beat and that Waynesburg returns a lot of players.

Ligonier Valley and Waynesburg tied for second last year.

He also expects Charleroi and Brownsville to be better and that Mt. Pleasant, with former Seton Hill women’s coach Matt Katarski at the helm, will be much improved.

“Every night will be a battle in the section,” Porter, a 2014 Mt. Pleasant graduate, said.

“Our nonsection schedule is also tough. It will prepare us for section play.”

Some of the teams the Rams will face are Berlin Brothersvalley, Marion Center, Laurel Highlands, Yough, Leechburg, Shady Side Academy, Greensburg Salem and Greensburg Central Catholic.

Ligonier Valley boys at a glance

Coach: Dante Porter

Last year’s record: 13-9 (7-3 Section 4-3A)

Returning starters: Noah Knupp (Jr., PG), Simeon Pope (Sr., F), and Mike Wisnewski (Sr., G).

Others to watch: Tyler Queer (Jr., G), Greyson Daugherty (So., F), Levi Moser (Sr., F), Michael Vargulish-Graver (Jr., F).

Top newcomers: Tim Ickes (Sr., C), Cam Kunkle (Sr., G), Jacob Petilino (Sr., G), Anthony Petilino (Fr., G).

SCHEDULE

12.3, Berlin Brothersvalley, 7:15 p.m.

12.5, TBA^

12.6, TBA^

12.9, McGuffey, 7 p.m.

12.12, at Geibel Catholic, 7:15 p.m.

12.19, Mt. Pleasant*, 7:15 p.m.

12.20, Greensburg Salem#, 1:30 p.m.

12.23, at Southmoreland*, 7:30 p.m.

12.29, TBA+

12.30, TBA+

1.6, at Brownsville*, 7 p.m.

1.9, Waynesburg*, 7:15 p.m.

1.12, at Penns Manor, 7:30 p.m.

1.13, at Charleroi*, 7:30 p.m.

1.16, at Shady Side Academy, 7:30 p.m.

1.23, at Mt. Pleasant*, 7 p.m.

1.24, TBA%

1.27, Southmoreland*, 7:15 p.m.

1.28, Leechburg, 7:15 p.m.

1.30, Brownsville*, 7:15 p.m.

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

2.6, Charleroi*, 7:15 p.m.

*Section game

^Ligonier Valley tipoff tournament

#WCCA Showcase

+Greensburg Salem tournament

%Shootout at Seton Hill

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Ligonier Valley