Trib HSSN boys basketball team of the week for Jan. 13, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Monday, January 13, 2025 | 11:33 PM

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Trib HSSN boys basketball teams of the week – New Castle Red Hurricanes

Coach: Ralph Blundo (15th season)

Record: 5-1 in Section 1-6A, 11-1 overall

#Earned: New Castle came out of the gates flying this season, winning its first eight games, which included victories in its first three section contests. However, the Red Hurricanes entered this week coming off their first loss of the season at home to Seneca Valley in the first game of 2025. How would the team respond? Very well, thank you. New Castle outscored host Pine-Richland 16-9 in the opening quarter then finished strong in the fourth to close out a section road win over the Rams, 65-52. The ‘Canes returned home Friday to host first-place Fox Chapel. The game was deadlocked at halftime before New Castle took control and ran away from the Foxes, winning big, 72-41. On Saturday in the Ron Galbreath Classic at Westminster, there was no sign of a letdown as New Castle raced out to a 35-13 lead over Mars by halftime and rolled to its 11th win in 12 games, 66-43. The two section wins pushed New Castle into a three-way tie for the top spot in Section 1-6A with Fox Chapel and Seneca Valley.

Scoring stars: The Red Hurricanes have been blessed with a lot of talented stars over the last few decades that have helped this program be one of the tops in the district. Coach Ralph Blundo may have another one brewing in freshman sensation Kai Cox. The 6-foot guard is averaging 20.1 points per game in his rookie scholastic season and led New Castle in scoring in all three games last week with 30 points against Pine-Richland and 19 points each against Fox Chapel and Mars. Senior Ralphie Blundo, the coach’s son, is averaging 17.7 points per game this season and had 17 points Friday and 15 more on Saturday. Also in double-digit scoring in all three games was 6-3 junior Damian Harrison, who contributed 12, 17 and 11 points. Adding to the ‘Canes balanced attack is junior forward Jayden Shaffer, who added 10 points in the home victory over Fox Chapel.

Last year: As great as this year has been, last year was a tough pill to swallow for the New Castle boys basketball program. The Red Hurricanes finished in a tie for fourth place with Pine-Richland and Seneca Valley after a loss to Seneca Valley in the section finale in the six-team Section 1-6A. The Rams won the tiebreaker over the Red Hurricanes and Raiders and Ne-Ca-High was home for the postseason for the first time since Ralph Blundo took over the program in 2011. The rough part about missing the playoffs — with a young team and playing two classes above what enrollment would dictate because of past successes — is New Castle finished with an overall record of 14-8, the same number of overall wins as Pine-Richland and Seneca Valley combined.

Remember when: New Castle is tied with Aliquippa for the most WPIAL boys basketball championships with 14. Ninety-eight years ago, the Red Hurricanes won their first district title, beating Coraopolis in a barnburner in 1927, 23-11. The ‘Canes also won gold in 1936 and 1982; however, 11 of their titles have come in the last 32 years. New Castle won it all in District 7 four times in the 1990s and an amazing seven times in the last 13 years under Blundo. However, with all of that WPIAL gold, the ‘Canes have only one PIAA state championship. It was 11 years ago after beating Hampton to win the 2014 Class 4A title, 55-49. The Red Hurricanes defeated Bethel Park, North Allegheny, Hampton and Abington to reach the state championship game. There, New Castle got 13 points and 13 rebounds from current Dallas Cowboys safety Malik Hooker to knock off District 12 La Salle College to win its only PIAA crown, 52-39, and complete a perfect 31-0 season.

2025 Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Teams of the Week:

Week 1 – Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles

Tags: New Castle