Plum boys basketball continuing to grow heading into 2nd half of season

By: Ted Sarneso
Saturday, January 4, 2025 | 11:01 AM

After a 51-25 loss to Seneca Valley on Dec. 28, Plum first-year boys basketball coach Dave Pucka admitted the score might look bad, but his players were in it the majority of the game.

“It didn’t get out of hand until late in the third quarter,” Pucka said. “I have to credit our kids, they did not stop fighting until the buzzer went off. Even our JV kids got some playing time and they still fought until the end.”

The loss put the Mustangs at 5-4 on the season and, although they didn’t get the result they wanted, they know there are things they’ll see on the film that can help them improve moving forward.

“We’re learning from each game,” Pucka said. “We would like to be 9-0 at this point, but in the four games we’ve lost to this point, we’ve been able to take something away from each of those games and make it a point to get better in those areas.”

Plum opened the season with a 52-37 loss to Fox Chapel, and Pucka said his players learned a great lesson for the rest of the season.

“We were so excited to play,” Pucka said. “The boys knew they could play and wanted to compete, but it’s not just about the want to, you have to go out and perform.”

After their next game, a 71-52 loss to a talented Chartiers Valley team, Plum went on a three-game winning streak against Freeport and section foes Hampton and Armstrong.

Defense was key in those wins and was a focus coming into the year, as the Mustangs had allowed 18 opponents to score 50 or more points last season.

“We emphasize defense and try to generate our points from defense as well,” Pucka said. “The win against Armstrong on the road, we did that on the defensive end. Nowadays, most kids can shoot it, so getting those stops is important and will be even more so when we hit the bulk of section play.”

In their first nine games, Plum has allowed five teams to score more than 50 points.

“We can be better on the defensive side,” Pucka said. “The other day in practice, we focused solely on that side of the ball and we got after each other a little bit. It was fun to see.”

During the streak, Plum was buoyed offensively by seniors Max Grice and Will Beckner, who each scored in double digits each game.

Grice had a season-high 30 points against Freeport, and Beckner had 16 points versus Hampton, his second-highest total after scoring 22 against Chartiers Valley.

Grice is averaging 20.8 points and 6.2 rebounds while Beckner is producing 10 points, 3.1 rebounds and five assists per game.

“I can’t say enough about those two guys,” Pucka said. “They’re our captains, and they’re the in the gym early and are the last ones to leave. They’re a part of our senior leadership that’s been great so far this season.”

Other major contributors from the senior group are a quartet that comes off the bench.

Wes Lorish and Fisher Bradley provide Pucka and the Mustangs valuable minutes. Center Darian Slaughter brings a large frame at 6-foot-3, and TJ Futules gives a spark.

“Having guards come off the bench is one thing,” Pucka said. “But when you have someone like Darian who can come off the bench and give us a different look, it’s big.

“TJ is a football player that came back out for the team this season, and he’s a hustler, a defender and works hard. He got some time against Highlands and gave us what we needed to win. This is a great group of seniors to build a team and program with.”

The Mustangs are also getting contributions from juniors Owen Proskin (8.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.2 apg) and Mekhi Samuels (7.1 ppg, 4 rpg), and sophomore Trey McMurray, who is averaging five points and five rebounds.

Getting that kind of support helped Plum shake off a 63-51 section loss to Shaler after the three-game win streak and rebound with a 59-51 win over Deer Lakes.

“Coach Fletcher is an excellent basketball coach, and he coaches those Deer Lakes kids up,” Pucka said. “They have good guards and guys who like to bang underneath, so that win was much needed after our loss to Shaler.”

Plum sits in third place in Section 2-5A with a 2-1 record, which is more section wins than last season.

“Our goal from the outset was to extend our season by making the playoffs,” Pucka said. “Right now, at 2-1 in section play, we haven’t done anything yet. If we keep learning, growing and practicing hard, we can achieve our goal.”

Tags: Plum