Under new coach, Bethel Park boys hope to build on playoff momentum

By: Ray Fisher
Saturday, December 7, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Dante Calabria coached the Bethel Park boys basketball team for two years.

In July, Calabria informed his players and the Bethel Park School District that he was resigning to take a position as head coach of Pistoia Basket 2000 of the Lega Basket Serie A in Europe.

Calabria is a Blackhawk and North Carolina alumnus who played for coach Dean Smith with the Tar Heels. He competed professionally in Italy and also played for the Italian national team.

Enter Unrico Abbondanza, or “Coach Rico” as he is known.

Abbondanza has taken over as floor boss for a team that compiled a 28-23 record over the past two seasons and qualified for the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs both years.

Abbondanza has local roots; he played in high school at Seton LaSalle. He was a four-year starter for Lock Haven from 1997-2001 and a three-time all-PSAC selection as a 6-foot-4 guard. He ranks in the top 10 of Lock Haven’s all-time leading scorers.

Abbondanza later competed as a starting point guard for the Pittsburgh Xplosion in the CBA. In 2007, he played for Liomatic Basket in Perugia, Italy.

Now a health and physical education teacher at Brashear, Abbondanza’s previous coaching experiences were with Perry, Bishop Canevin, Brashear and as an assistant the past two years at Bethel Park. He served as interim head coach at Perry when he was 24.

The Black Hawks last season advanced to the WPIAL and PIAA quarterfinals before ending up 15-14 overall. After finishing third in Section 1-5A, Bethel Park made some blaring noise in the postseason by winning three times in the WPIAL tournament and twice in the state playoffs.

“We are certainly coming off an exciting season,” Abbondanza said. “The team surpassed our expectations. It was a lot of joy going along for the ride with them and the team certainly deserved it.

“Coach Calabria did a fantastic job building a basketball culture in such a short period. It will be a hard act to follow, for sure.”

Two returning starters for the Black Hawks are seniors Tanner Pfeuffer, a 6-foot-6 forward, and Jack Bruckner, at a guard position. Both were integral members of the Bethel Park football program the last four years.

“To our misfortune, Tanner injured his wrist at the last football game and will be restricted for six to eight weeks,” Abbondanza said. “It’s a very unfortunate situation for us and his presence will be missed. He is a competitor on the field and on the hardwood, no matter what the situation is.”

Bruckner said the team will try to add more chapters to last year’s success story.

“Our strength this year comes from our long playoff run last season,” he said. “The team has tasted success and wants to build on that experience. We lost a few studs from last year’s team and need to replace their scoring. But that gives the opportunity for new and hungry guys to step up.

“We have high expectations. Coach Calabria established the foundation (last season) with Bethel Park making the elite eight at states for the first time in 50 years. Coach Abbondanza was an instrumental part of our success the last couple years. Now it’s his team. And our expectations are as high as ever. We expect greatness and hard work every time we take the floor. Coach Abbondanza is an excellent teacher, coach and role model. We are so excited for him to represent Bethel Park basketball.”

Abbondanza believes the feistiness that Bruckner brings to the game helps instill a positive attitude among his teammates.

“Jack Bruckner brings contagious energy to every game,” the coach said. “He’s an all-around athlete that will go nose-to-nose with anyone and create havoc on the defensive end of the floor.

“His cousin, (guard) Mike Bruckner, had very productive play last season as a sophomore. He is a very skilled and strong presence at the power forward position who will likely start in that role this year.”

Pfeuffer and senior forward Alex Dziezgowski will serve as co-captains this season.

“They have been very good leaders and inviting to our younger players,” Abbondanza said. “Tanner’s presence will be missed, although it will be temporary. Alex is a pure shooter with superior long-range and mid-range capability.”

There will be several new faces in the lineup. Seven seniors graduated off last year’s squad.

“We have some young players that have had great progress in the preseason,” Abbondanza said.

Watch for sophomore Joey Parisi and juniors Evan Devine (G/F), Owen Turoski (G) and Will Thomas (PG) to make their presence felt.

“Joey Parisi is a very athletic guard/forward and is in great physical shape. We expect him to be a major contributor,” Abbondanza said. “Evan Devine, Owen Turoski and Will Thomas have also shown much progress throughout a vigorous preseason of conditioning.”

Pfeuffer and Bruckner aren’t the only gridders playing basketball this year.

“Since the late return of football players due to their successful season, there is a whole new layer of players that brings an exciting addition to our team,” Abbondanza said. “Sophomores Will Sabatos and Brady Bruckner are as competitive as you can get on both ends of the floor. They’re still not in basketball shape just yet, but they’ve had very impressive efforts since rejoining the basketball team.”

Abbondanza’s basic coaching philosophy revolves around taking a positive approach to the game.

“I believe that preparation and practice (reflect) the results of most games,” he said. “Trying to create a positive culture where the game is fun and still joyful is very important, and it starts with good leaders.

“There is a very promising group of youth basketball players developing in Bethel Park, and I think it is instrumental to have the high school players being inspirational and motivational to the younger generation of athletes. That is the most fortunate thing we have right now — we truly do have well-rounded individuals on our roster.”

Bethel Park’s first-year floor boss added Jose DelToro, who played at Princeton in the early ‘90s, to the team’s coaching staff.

“We are trying to grow our basketball culture every day,” Abbondanza said. “With the addition of coach DelToro, we are starting to create an intense learning environment where progress will be made every day we are together in the gym.”

Tags: Bethel Park