Senior guard Joe Coyle, Quaker Valley boys start season on right foot

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, December 10, 2023 | 11:01 AM

Joe Coyle is back for his senior year in the Quaker Valley boys basketball program.

And what a splash he made to start the season.

A talented 6-foot-1 guard, Coyle was the Quakers’ leading scorer and a first-team all-section selection last year.

Much is expected of him this season; he’s the only upperclassman in the Quakers’ starting lineup.

“We will remain a very young team with only one senior playing significant minutes,” QV coach Mike Mastroianni said. “We return a number of letter winners and will continue to grow as we adapt to our new roles. Our practice approach has been positive. The players have a better understanding of their roles and expectations.”

Coyle accounted for 44 points — including a career-tying best 30 in his team’s season-opening 54-46 win against Sewickley Academy — and 16 assists in the two-day Carlynton tip-off tournament won by the Quakers.

QV defeated rival Sewickley Academy, 54-46, behind Coyle, who added six assists to his offensive explosion, along with 6-foot sophomore guard Zach Washington and 6-2 freshman guard Sam Chapman, who chipped in with eight apiece.

The Quakers rolled past host Carlynton, 66-37, in the championship game as Coyle finished with 14 points and 10 assists.

Coyle was named MVP of the tournament. Washington, who netted 15 points in the championship game, was selected to the all-tournament team. Chapman scored 12 against the Cougars.

“I think we played very well together and moved the ball quickly,” Coyle said, “which is the reason why there was even scoring (by QV) in the tournament championship.”

Coyle is a second-year varsity starter who saw playing time on the Quakers’ WPIAL championship team as a sophomore in 2021-22.

He averaged 17.8 ppg last season to rank among the WPIAL’s leading scorers and grabbed four rebounds per game.

“Joey’s game has improved every year,” Mastroianni said. “He is a three-level scorer with a strong middle game, combined with being an outstanding 3-point shooter and strong off the dribble to the basket.

“Joey is an outstanding competitor and teammate and leads through his actions.”

Coyle plays exhaustive defense and displays an accurate touch on offense. He led the team in steals and 3-point field goals last season, while finishing in the top three in assists, free-throw and field-goal percentage, 3-point percentage and rebounds.

“Based on his play in his first two years in our program, he was ready to be a major contributor in all areas his junior year,” Mastroianni said. “Our coaching staff is not surprised with Joey’s progress.

“He is an outstanding perimeter shooter with great ball skills and is a strong finisher around the basket. He continues to grow and flourish.”

One of Coyle’s best all-around games last year came against Canon-McMillan in a 65-36 win Jan. 21 in the PBC Legends Classic at Moon. Coyle clicked for 27 points, four 3-pointers, four rebounds, four steals and two assists.

He scored 30 against Carlynton and 29 against Sewickley Academy in last year’s tip-off tournament at Carlynton and was named to the all-tournament team.

“My biggest influences in my basketball career are the guys that played here before me,” Coyle said. “I remember my dad would take me to watch the games and I would want to be just like them when I was older.”

Quaker Valley started the 2022-23 season by winning six of its first eight games and was 11-5 at the end of January, which included a 6-1 record in Section 4-4A.

The Quakers ended up 14-7 overall and 8-2 in the section after winning five in a row and seven of eight late in the season.

QV lost to Belle Vernon, 81-55, in the first round of last year’s WPIAL playoffs.

Coyle said he is “pretty confident” about the potential of this year’s squad. One of the team’s goals for 2023-24 is to capture the section title.

“I expect for us to win the section and get a good seed in the playoffs,” Coyle said. “Our shooting and defense are strengths, and we have some height.”

QV’s junior class is well-represented on the team by the likes of Dana Kromah and Dominic Cox-Giles, both 6-4 forwards, and Rocco Luchette, a 6-foot guard. All three earned varsity letters last season.

“Kromah, Luchette and Cox-Giles started a number of games last year and were in the varsity rotation,” Mastroianni said.

Washington, another returning letterman, 6-3 sophomore forward Reese Fatur, 6-2 freshman forward Jesse “Kolton” Howe and Chapman also are expected to have significant roles in 2023-24.

As the month of December approached, Mastroianni still was working on establishing a starting five from among Coyle, Kromah, Luchette, Cox-Giles, Washington, Fatur, Chapman and Howe.

QV’s section opponents are Avonworth, East Allegheny, Montour, South Allegheny and West Mifflin. The Quakers were co-champions with South Allegheny (8-2) in league play last year.

Montour (5-5), West Mifflin (4-6), Avonworth (4-6) and East Allegheny (1-9) rounded out the standings.

“The section will be competitive,” Coyle said, “but the two teams to beat are South Allegheny and Montour.”

Tags: Quaker Valley