Laurel Highlands boys preview: New era begins for Mustangs under Smith
Perhaps no area team lost more key players than Laurel Highlands boys.
Gone are Rodney Gallagher, Keondre DeShields, Patrick Cavanagh, Mason Bolish, Blaise Krisner, Michael Bittner, Nate Schwertfeger, Noah Bryant and Josh Stenger.
Also gone is coach Rick Hauger who stepped down after a remarkable career.
John Smith, Hauger无毛视频檚 trusty assistant, has now stepped into the head coaching role.
Smith is very familiar with the program.
无毛视频淚 was the middle school assistant for two years and the head coach for two years, and then I was the varsity assistant with Rick for six years,无毛视频� Smith pointed out. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 also the president and founder of our youth program.
无毛视频淪o the transition was seamless. I无毛视频檝e been in the gym all offseason with the boys, through the spring, the summer, the fall. I had them in a summer league and a fall league. The boys have been really buying in to what we无毛视频檙e trying to do. We无毛视频檙e just going to try to keep improving.无毛视频�
Laurel Highlands went 1-1 at the season-opening tournament at Yough, falling in a close 56-55 battle to Derry where the Mustangs battled back from a 13-point deficit and then defeating Summit Academy, 59-40.
Smith discussed his current squad after those first two games.
无毛视频淩ight now my starting five is seniors Ethan Koffler, Jaden Ringer and Shane Layton and juniors Aiden Black and Antwan Black,无毛视频� Smith said.
Layton is LH无毛视频檚 center, Antwan Black will be a forward with Koffler, Ringer and Aiden Black as guards.
无毛视频淐oming off the bench, I无毛视频檝e got a couple sophomores, Luke Martin and Sevi Vecchiolla, a junior, Brennen Varney, and a couple seniors, Luka Sechevits and Dameon Pratt,无毛视频� Smith said.
无毛视频淭hat无毛视频檚 pretty much right now my 10-man rotation, if we use that many.无毛视频�
Smith is well aware of the wealth of talent Laurel Highlands lost from last year无毛视频檚 team which won a third straight section championship, tying Uniontown, and reached the final four of the WPIAL and the PIAA quarterfinals.
无毛视频淎ntwan started some games last year for us but otherwise we无毛视频檙e definitely a bunch of guys with little or no varsity experience,无毛视频� Smith admitted. 无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e battling, working hard and doing the best we can.无毛视频�
Most of the Mustangs starters have stepped in and taken leadership roles, according to Smith.
无毛视频淐ollectively the starting five have all shown leadership ability and are continuing to evolve at each of their positions,无毛视频� Smit said. 无毛视频淚 look at Ethan Koffler as kind of like our silent leader. He just comes in and puts his head down and does what he无毛视频檚 supposed to do. Jaden has done a good job of being vocal and being a positive influence on the team, and Shane also. Aiden and Antwan have done a good job in that respect, too.无毛视频�
Smith named four coaches who will help him out in his first year at the helm of the Mustangs.
无毛视频淪handon Marshall is the head JV coach, and Paul Eckert and Dr. Jonathan Krizner are also on my coaching staff,无毛视频� Smith said. 无毛视频淎nd Carl Shusko is our freshmen coach.无毛视频�
The Mustangs will again be in Section 3-AAAA along with Fayette County rivals Uniontown and Albert Gallatin, Belle Vernon, Elizabeth Forward and Southmoreland, with the top four qualifying for the postseason.