Playoff near-miss motivates Plum boys

By: Michael Love
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 | 3:44 PM

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The Plum boys basketball team fell one win short of a WPIAL Class 5A playoff spot last year, and for coach Dave Pucka and his players, it felt even closer than that.

Several tight losses in section, including a one-point setback to Shaler and a two-overtime loss to Hampton, contributed to the Mustangs not being able to extend their season.

Plum went 1-5 down the stretch in section play and ended 4-8 while finishing 8-14 overall. Pucka said there was sufficient motivation and optimism to put in the work in the offseason with hope of a playoff run in 2025-26.

“They were definitely eager to get back into the gym and get to work,” Pucka said. “It’s not easy handing in your uniform knowing you were just a few points shy of seeing your team in the bracket. We’ve got to maintain that level of determination throughout the season. The goal is always the same, and that is to make the playoffs.”

Pucka said there was good attendance throughout the summer and fall at workouts and summer league games where the team started to take shape. He said that has increased in recent weeks as players returned to the gym from fall sports.

Forward Max Grice and guard Will Beckner, the team’s leading scorers last year and all-section performers, were lost to graduation.

Looking to pick up the slack is a group of returnees that includes starters in 6-foot-3 senior forward Mekhi Samuels and 6-4 senior forward Owen Proskin.

Senior guards Josh Kodman and Jesse Stead and senior forward Quentin Newman also are back and will be supported in the lineup by a group of newcomers that includes sophomores Xavier Barto and Bryce Nabozny and junior Xavier Nickles.

“Our team has become a lot more familiar with each other, and we’ve been playing together within our system,” Pucka said. “We have a mixture of some seniors that are willing to lead and some younger guys that are hungry and ready to prove themselves.”

Pucka said his team must embrace the competition and not shy away from it.

“If we are going to see success, we must compete at a very high level, not only in games but also at practice each and every day,” he said.

Pucka expects the section to be challenging again.

Kiski Area battled Penn Hills down to the wire last year before the Cavaliers captured the title with an 11-1 record. The Indians finished 10-2 followed by Hampton (6-6), Indiana (5-7) and Shaler (5-7).

“Most teams are returning their key players,” Pucka said. “And we understand wins in our section will not come easy. We have to be willing to put the work in during the week and prepare, both mentally and physically.”

Pucka said he hoped to see good things as his players opened the season Dec. 2 at Plum against neighboring rival Franklin Regional.

Plum will get another good look at where it is in the early season at the Chartiers Valley tipoff tournament Dec. 5-6. It opens tournament play against the host Colts.

The Mustangs visit Freeport on Dec. 10 before opening section play Dec. 12 at home against Hampton.

“The first couple of games will give us a good look at where we are heading into section play,” Pucka said. “It will be fun to see who will step up and help form what this team will become.”

Plum boys at a glance

Coach: Dave Pucka (second year)

Last year’s record: 8-14 (4-8 in Section 2-5A)

Returning starters: Mekhi Samuels (Sr., F), Owen Proskin (Sr., F)

Others to watch: Josh Kodman (Sr., G), Jesse Stead (Sr., G), Quentin Newman (Sr., F)

Top newcomers: Xavier Barto (So.), Bryce Nabozny (So.) and junior Xavier Nickles (Jr.)

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

12.2, Franklin Regional, 7:30 p.m.

12.5, at Chartiers Valley^, 7:30 p.m.

12.6, TBD^, TBD

12.10, at Freeport, 7:30 p.m.

12.12, Hampton*, 7:30 p.m.

12.16, Armstrong*, 7:30 p.m.

12.19, at Shaler*, 7 p.m.

12.20, at Deer Lakes, 5:30 p.m.

12.26, Highlands+, , 7:30 p.m.

12.27, Knoch, 3:30 p.m.

1.6, Penn Hills*, 7:30 p.m.

1.9, at Kiski Area*, 7 p.m.

1.13, Indiana*, 7:30 p.m.

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

1.17, Shady Side Academy, 2:30 p.m.

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

1.23, Shaler*, 7:30 p.m.

1.27, Bethel Park, 7:30 p.m.

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

1.31, Greensburg Salem#, 3 p.m.

2.3, Kiski Area*, 7:30 p.m.

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

*Section game

^Chartiers Valley tip-off tournament

+Plum holiday tournament

#At Saint Vincent

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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