Trib HSSN boys basketball player of the week for Feb. 12, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Monday, February 12, 2024 | 8:33 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Trib HSSN boys basketball player of the week: Michael Plasko

School: South Fayette

Class: Senior

Height: 5-foot-11

Position: Guard

What coach says: “Mike has that look on his face every time he steps on the floor,” South Fayette coach Dave Mislan said. “So much of what kids do revolves around their confidence, and Mike has built a skill set that provides him that confidence. Some of my best coaching is not coaching at all and just trusting him that he will put pressure on the defense and then make the right read depending on what he sees. As (Tuesday vs. North Hills) progressed, he would keep his dribble intact and find a gap or a space to hit his pull up. He was also 11 of 13 from the free throw line.

“We had a home doubleheader with the girls team in front of a huge student section of his friends and family on Friday. It’s always more special at home and in a section game makes it sweeter. Plus, a shout out to Brandon Bell who also got his 1,000th point on the last basket of the game. I never saw two 1,000 point celebrations on the last two baskets of the game.

“Michael’s strength in traffic and his explosiveness off the dribble are where I see his most improvement. He is really getting better and getting to where he sees the scoring spot and finishing with balanced base. A year ago he could get to certain spots but then jump himself into trouble or a congested spot. Now he makes that one extra pivot to keep the defense guessing. He has truly had an amazing two years against a very tough nonsection and a brutal 5A section.”

#Earned: Plasko did nothing but help his status as one of the top scorers in the WPIAL. He came into the week at No. 7 in district scoring. He added big time to the stats sheet when he dropped 50 points in a victory at North Hills. The senior also had five assists as he scored or aided the Lions in 60 of their 69 points in a victory over the Indians, 69-64. He only scored a little less than half of Tuesday’s total on Friday in the section finale against visiting West Allegheny. Plasko scored 24 points as the Lions secured second place in a tough Section 4-5A with a 60-51 victory over West A.

Background: On Friday in his final home regular season game, Plasko scored the last of his 24 points on two free throws with seconds remaining. Those two points were the 999th and 1,000th points of his stellar career. While he plans on playing basketball at a undecided college next year, Plasko was quite the standout on the pitch as well as on the hardwood. He tallied 13 goals this season in helping the South Fayette boys soccer team win an unexpected WPIAL Class 3A championship as the No. 8 seed. In a first-round match against Latrobe, Plasko scored all four goals in a 4-0 whitewash to get the ball rolling on the Lions’ golden postseason run.

2024 Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Players of the Week

Week 5 – Lorenzo Gardner, Monessen

Week 4 – Joe Roth, Ellwood City

Week 3 – Jay Wrona, Mohawk

Week 2 – Peters Kramer, Hampton

Week 1 – Joey Dopirak, North Allegheny

Tags: South Fayette