Westmoreland County boys basketball notebook: Derry senior filling nets

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, December 14, 2023 | 11:01 AM

With four 30-point games this season, Derry’s Nate Papuga is one of the top scorers in the WPIAL.

The senior guard had 27 points, and the game-winning shot, in a 56-55 win over Laurel Highlands, then added 31 in a 66-55 win over Connellsville, went for 33 as the Trojans defeated Mt. Pleasant, 73-56, and dropped 35 in Tuesday’s 65-60 win over Greensburg Salem.

Papuga has emerged despite a painful upper body bruise that has not slowed his progress.

He is averaging 30 points a game.

“Nate has matured into a true leader on and off the court,” Derry coach Tom Esposito said. “He’s a pleasure to coach and responds to being coached hard by the staff. Many times we look at each other on the court and he gets it without a word being said.”

Esposito said he also has that connection with senior guard Brady Angus, who forms a sturdy backcourt with Papuga.

“Nate has shot thousands of shots over the course of the offseason,” Esposito said. “I think he was shooting when the doctor delivered him, yet he is an unselfish scorer who finds an open teammate.”

“Nate is a dog that just wants to win, man. We had a recent talk and his drive to win is more important than putting the ball in the hole.”

Latrobe banged up

Latrobe may not know its full potential this season due to a rash of injuries, but the lineup is beginning to get a replenishment.

Junior point guard John Wetzel, junior forward Alex Tatsch, junior guard/forward Jack Drnjevich and sophomore guard Andy Tatsch are on the shelf with injuries, primarily related to football.

Alex Tatsch, the highly recruited linebacker, and Drnjevich are likely done for the season.

Wetzel and Andy Tatsch were expecting to return this week.

“It’s been challenging because it’s not just a guy or two,” coach Brad Wetzel said. “Players are in positions that they didn’t play all summer. Sometimes there are benefits to times like this that we don’t realize at the moment. Hopefully, this turns out to be the case.”

Crosby hits 1,500

Yough senior Terek Crosby, one of the top scorers in the WPIAL at 32 points per game, topped the 1,500-point mark for his career.

Crosby, a 6-foot-3 guard, has 1,518 now as he tries to become the first Westmoreland County player since Jeannette’s Terrelle Pryor to reach 2,000 points.

Section openers

Section play begins for several local teams Friday night.

Matchups include: Ligonier Valley at Deer Lakes (Section 3-3A), Yough at Brownsville (4-3A), Riverview at Greensburg Central Catholic (3-2A), and Serra Catholic at Jeannette (3-2A).

Game of the week

Unbeaten Franklin Regional (5-0) will play host to Butler (2-1) Friday night in the KDKA Radio game of the week. The Class 5A Panthers will try to stay unbeaten as they face the preseason No. 1-ranked team in 6A.

The game can be heard on 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA.

Layups

Could there be a sleeper lurking in Class 4A? Southmoreland is quietly 4-0 after a 68-62 win over Yough on Tuesday. The Scotties are averaging 70.2 points per game. … Greensburg Salem will honor its 2008-09 PIAA runner-up team on Dec. 28 when the Golden Lions host Hempfield in the Greensburg Salem Holiday Classic. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. Other teams in the round-robin event are Jeannette, Penn Hills, Greensburg Central Catholic, Mt. Pleasant, Yough and Connellsville. … Five of Hempfield’s first eight games are at home. … Southmoreland coach Frank Muccino now has two WPIAL championships and two PIAA titles — as an assistant football coach at Belle Vernon.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Hempfield, Latrobe