Narrow late-season losses prevent Plum boys from reaching postseason

By: Michael Love
Saturday, February 15, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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With experience returning to the lineup and new faces giving his team a shot of adrenaline, first-year Plum boys basketball coach Dave Pucka said the pieces were in place for a run to the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs.

He said he saw his team compete hard and battle in many of the games in Section 2, but in the end, the Mustangs fell just short of that desired WPIAL berth.

“The kids were really disappointed,” Pucka said.

“We learned a lot this season, and we’re still learning how to close out games and win games. When you have to rely on help to get into the playoffs, and that help doesn’t come through, it can be very disappointing. The guys felt they were good enough to compete with the teams that were in the (Class 5A) bracket.”

Plum finished 8-14 overall and 4-8 in the section, an improvement from last year’s 1-9 section mark. It ended the section slate one game behind both Shaler and Indiana, which tied for the fourth and final playoff spot.

The Mustangs were 1-5 down the stretch in the section. That mark might have been somewhat deceiving to many when examining a three-game stretch which saw Plum suffer consecutive section losses by a combined 10 points.

Two of the setbacks were by slim margins: one point to Shaler and two points in overtime to Hampton.

Shaler’s Deron Dixon made a foul shot with two seconds left for a 60-59 Titans victory Jan. 24.

“We went up on them early. I think it was about 13 points in the first half,” Pucka said. “We had to call a timeout when Shaler cut the lead in half before halftime. When Shaler made the game competitive in the second half, we battled hard. It was back and forth.

“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to close it out. It was heartbreaking to say the least because we had played so hard for so long. Unfortunately, it didn’t go our way.”

Plum defeated Hampton, 74-49, at home in December. Despite 17 points from Will Beckner and 11 from Max Grice in the rematch Jan. 17, the Mustangs were not able to hold a lead, and the Talbots rallied for the win in the extra session.

“Hampton is a very good basketball team, and we played really well the first time and made a ton of plays,” Pucka said. “The second time around, I knew (Hampton) would come out and play a lot better and be prepared for us. … They took the lead late in the game, and then we were able to tie it and go into overtime. They made a couple of nice plays in overtime. That was another one I felt could’ve gone either way.

“For the kids to give maximum effort and to come up short two times like that, it can be heartbreaking. It can be hard to overcome things like that mentally. But the kids were able to push through and come back to practice and compete and worked to still have a chance for the playoffs.”

Pucka said that he saw a strong work ethic and enthusiasm from the players throughout the entire season.

“They started believing that they could compete with the teams which are strong year in and year out,” he said.

“Every team is well coached in our section and has great athletes. I think the guys learned a lot throughout the season about how to compete with all of what they experienced in those close and competitive games. Overall, I am very proud of this group.”

Pucka also touted his team’s nonsection schedule, which included games against Fox Chapel, Chartiers Valley, Seneca Valley, Bethel Park, Franklin Regional, Avonworth and Shady Side Academy.

“Those kids accepted every challenge we threw at them,” Pucka said. “They wanted tough games all year long. Even games that seemed lopsided in the box scores we were very competitive.”

The seniors — Grice and Beckner, the team’s leading scorers, as well as Fisher Bradley, Wes Lorish, Mason Filo, AJ Futules, Jack Muldowney and Darian Slaughter — were celebrated before Plum’s 46-37 win over Armstrong on Jan. 29.

Pucka said the group helped start a comeback which will hopefully lead to a return to postseason play.

“The group showed strong leadership through all of the challenges and helped the team play meaningful basketball in February. That is going to be their legacy,” Pucka said.

“We did fall short of our goal of the playoffs, but I told them they have nothing to hang their heads about. I called them the turnaround team. When they view this season, I don’t think it will be about seeing the overall record as much as it will be to look at each individual game on the schedule and be proud of the way they competed and how they were respected by their opponents.”

For the returning players such as junior forwards Owen Proskin and Mekhi Samuels, and sophomore guard Trey McMurray, the message, Pucka said, is simply to keep improving.

“We have to continue to accept those challenges like the seniors did this year,” Pucka said. “They can never be satisfied. Next year, our goal is going to remain the same. First and foremost, it is making it to the postseason.

“What can we do as a team to get better in the offseason so that we are not turning in our uniforms before the playoffs start. I will let them know right when open gyms start so we can start building for next year.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

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