Quaker Valley boys plan to mix youth, experience to earn another playoff trip

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, December 1, 2024 | 11:01 AM

The recipe for success for the Quaker Valley boys basketball team in 2024-25 appears to be a substantial blend of youth and experience.

The Quakers’ master chef is veteran floor boss Mike Mastroianni.

“We have a unique mix as we are still a very young team but have a good core of experienced players returning that received valuable playing time last year,” Mastroianni said.

Mastroianni welcomed a talented group of players back from last year’s WPIAL playoff team including senior forwards Dana Kromah, Dom Cox-Giles and El Folabit, junior guard Zach Washington and sophomore prospects Sam Chapman and Kolton Johnson.

“Kolton started over half our games last year as a freshman forward,” Mastroianni said.

Washington was the team leader in 3-point shooting last year and ranked second in scoring — averaging close to 16 points per game — as well as field-goal shooting and free-throw shooting.

And watch for three of the top freshman players — Nic Cohen, Harrison Kerley and Connor Dwyer — to provide depth in the program.

“Nic Cohen, El Folabit, Connor Dwyer and Harrison Kerley will be in the mix to help us in our rotations,” said Mastroianni, who is in his 26th year as QV’s floor boss and 33rd overall as a high school head coach.

The Quakers are hoping to improve on their fourth-place finish in Section 4-4A last year.

QV posted a 5-5 record in section play to end up behind Montour (9-1), Avonworth (7-3) and South Allegheny (6-4) in the final standings

The Quakers advanced to the postseason where they lost in the WPIAL first round to Uniontown, 64-45.

QV had two players graduate from last year’s squad in guard Joe Coyle and forward Zach Djedid. The sharp-shooting Coyle averaged close to 18 ppg to lead the team in scoring.

Coyle also ranked first in assists and free-throw shooting, second in steals per game and third in field-goal percentage and rebounding.

Chosen to play on the Class 4A boys team at the annual Roundball Classic, Coyle was a two-year varsity starter who saw playing time on the Quakers’ WPIAL championship team as a sophomore in 2021-22.

QV opens the season in tournament action and will play Class 3A Beaver Falls (Nov. 30) at Geneva College, against Class 5A Franklin Regional (Dec. 3) at Franklin Regional and Class 5A Laurel Highlands (Dec. 6) at Derry.

Tags: Quaker Valley