Mt. Pleasant boys to embark on ‘refocusing year’ after starters graduate

By: Ted Sarneso
Thursday, November 21, 2024 | 6:39 PM

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Mt. Pleasant boys basketball coach Annie Malkowiak always tries to find the positive in everything.

Despite what looked to be a bad year, with the Vikings finishing 8-13 overall, she saw plenty of growth within the team.

“It was about those kids getting used to something completely different from what was there before,” said Malkowiak. “There was a lot of learning that needed to happen in a short period of time.”

Growth and learning will be major themes again this season as the Vikings are in what Malkowiak calls a “refocusing year” as the team transitions from a veteran team to a young one.

The crucial losses from last year’s roster include the entire starting five and the sixth man.

“Luke Rivardo was my floor general at point guard, I lost two pure shooters in Chase McCloy and Connor Pavlocak and I lost my top rebounder and post man in Dante Giallanardo,” said Malkowiak. “I also lost my sixth man in Nolan Harnish, who was my communicator and got us six or seven boards a game.”

What’s left on the roster is a group of young, inexperienced players, but Malkowiak is staying optimistic.

“I’m not that coach that’s going to compare last year’s team with this year’s because it’s a completely different group of kids with a different skill set,” said Malkowiak. “Now what assistant coach Kenny Johnson and I have to do is figure out what the strengths of this team are and build around that.”

One returner who saw the most action last year is senior forward Aiden Johnson, who averaged 7.2 points and 5.5 rebounds. Carter Unger, a 6-foot-6 junior forward, also returns after missing all of last year with an injury.

Other returning players include juniors Gage Vallone and Jordan Grief and sophomores Cole Massari and Kade Hutchinson.

Adding to that mix is a group of 10 freshmen who could push for playing time.

“That’s the same group I had when I volunteered a few years ago and coached travel ball,” Malkowiak said. “They know what I expect, know I’m demanding, but they also know those demands are not unwarranted or unachievable. What I love about them is they’re hustlers and grinders.”

Last year, the Vikings finished 8-13 overall, 7-5 in Section 4-3A and made the playoffs before losing in the first round.

The team’s record did not tell the whole story. The Vikings played a tough nonsection schedule, facing a lot of competition from Class 5A and 6A.

“From all my years playing in college, coaching and everywhere I’ve been, you don’t get better playing similar or lesser talent,” Malkowiak said. “Just like when you’re practicing in a gym, if you’re the best player there, go find another gym. That’s the only way you get better.

“Outsiders who look at our section always view our section as the weakest, and I chuckle. I’m not sure where that came from. There’s a lot of teams in our section that are athletic, quick, talented and I think our section doesn’t get the respect I think it should.”

There are changes to the section this year as playoff teams Yough, Washington and McGuffey have left, and Ligonier Valley and longtime rival Southmoreland come in.

“I think we have a very physical and athletic section,” Malkowiak said. “You can’t afford to lose home games, and you have to steal some road games. Got to be ready to go at all time, because any one of these teams can come into your gym and roll you out. It’s anybody’s section at this point.”

Malkowiak says the goals are simple this season. She wants to see the team “compete in every game for 32 minutes, get more wins, get to the playoffs and maybe make some noise when we’re there”

But the long-term goal is to change people’s perceptions of Mt. Pleasant basketball.

“We at Mt. Pleasant have always been irrelevant in the game of basketball, and that’s something coach Johnson and I are trying to change. We’re trying to change the culture, and it’s really hard to do,” Malkowiak said. “I want to get to the point where no matter what the scoreboard says, that people know they played Mt. Pleasant.”

Mt. Pleasant boys at a glance

Coach: Annie Malkowiak

Last year’s record: 8-13 (7-5 in Section 4-3A)

Top returner: Aiden Johnson (Sr., F)

Top newcomers: Gage Vallone (Jr., G); Kade Hutchinson (So., G); Cole Massari (So., G); Carter Unger (Jr., F); Jordan Grief (Jr., G)

Tags: Mt. Pleasant