Two years ago, the Valley boys basketball team had a season most would want to forget.
The Vikings went 1-20 overall and were winless in section play.
But the players made sure they remembered how it felt to be on the short end of so many results. Young players pressed into action because of injuries grew and matured.
The trials of the 2015-16 campaign motivated them to get better, and get better they did.
Valley produced one of the better turnaround stories in all of the WPIAL last year as it improved to 11-12 overall, finished third in Section 1-4A at 8-4 and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
Now, with four starters and other players back in the fold, fifth-year Vikings coach Mark Faulx said his team has the potential to take that next step, both in section play and in the postseason.
“We've had a good couple weeks of practice,” Faulx said. “It's a nice group. We're just trying to have continued improvement and see where it takes us.”
Valley was in position last year to win its first WPIAL playoff game since 2009, but despite building a double-digit lead in the second half of a first-round game against McGuffey, the Vikings let the advantage slip away in a 50-48 overtime setback.
“Two years ago, we only won one game, and that wasn't fun,” senior Alex Ward said. “That fueled us last year to make changes. Now, we want to continue to progress, and that means winning a playoff game and going further.”
Several players last year showed the ability to lead the team in scoring.
The veteran varsity core features four returning starters seniors Dru Stokes, Ward and Darius Johnson and junior Dede Ross.
Ross had a team-best 15 points in the playoff game against McGuffey, and Stokes finished with 13.
Nyjewel Carter, a junior, was the Vikings' top outside threat last year, and Faulx expects him to again figure prominently in the offense.
Stokes and Ward enter their third seasons as starters.
“We're really excited because we still have that same amount of potential, and since we have that playoff experience, we want more. We're hungry for more,” Stokes said.
Junior guard/forward Roman Flenory, a former student in the Highlands School District, returns after a year living in the Boston area.
Junior forward Javon Wade-Shaw is expected to have a key role on varsity this year, and Faulx said he will compete for minutes among a competitive group at his position. That group includes freshmen Elijah Murray and Adisun Jackson.
Junior guard Isiah Mangol returns to the team after not playing last year, and Malique Richardson, a junior guard, is a newcomer from the JV team who hopes to have an impact on varsity this year.
“We should have a pretty deep bench. I think at least our first four or five off the bench can be really strong,” Stokes said.
“It's been important for the veterans to be there for the newcomers to make sure they are prepared for game time,” Ward said.
Valley scrimmaged at Hempfield last Friday, and Faulx said he saw good things from his team against the Class 6A Spartans.
“I thought we played well,” Faulx said. “We're trying to play good defense, take care of the ball and take good shots. We definitely have depth that we like. We're still trying to figure out where everybody fits in to where we can be most successful. That has created great competition in practice.”
Indiana is the defending champion in Section 1. Local rivals Freeport and Deer Lakes joined the Indians and the Vikings in the postseason last year, and Faulx said they should be in the mix again.
Valley kicks off its season Monday at home against Class 5A Armstrong, a playoff qualifier a year ago.
“We're excited,” Faulx said. “It's at home, so the guys are looking forward to that game. We know (Armstrong) will be strong. We want to put an effective game plan together. Hopefully, we have a good showing.
“We felt an energy in that playoff game that we had never felt before. We want to carry that energy into this season, and it starts with Monday's game.”
