NTL BOYS BASKETBALL: WYALUSING EXCITED TO SEE WHAT 2023-2024 BRINGS (2023-11-30)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
It will be a year of familiarity and a season of innovation for the Wyalusing boys’ basketball team. They return much of last year’s players, but will have to find a way to replace the production of 2-time all-state forward Blake Morningstar.

Morningstar put up 25.2 points per game and 12.9 rebounds per game, numbers that won’t be easy to replicate.

“It just changes our dynamic so much,” said Wyalusing coach Brent Keyes. “Blake was obviously great for us the last number of year, and then last year as a senior, but it allows different opportunities for all the guys that are back. We have a lot of guys that did play last year, and we also have some JV guys moving up who are ready to fill in those roles, and then it provides just new opportunities for everyone.”

They do bring back their starting backcourt of Trehnon Hugo (6 PPG, 2.4 assists per game) and Parker Petlock (5.2 PPG, a team leading 27 3-pointers).

“I can’t want to get started, actually,” said Hugo. “We didn’t do as well as we thought we would (last year), but as a group I see now, I think we’ll be really good this year.”

Hugo believes no one player can replace Morningstar, and it’ll have to be a team effort.

“We’re going to need to pass the ball more,” he said. “Everyone needs to touch the ball, everyone has to score, everyone has to do their part.”

For them, the sum of the parts will need to be greater than the whole.

And it’s not just stats, they’ll need to replace Morningstar’s leadership skills, too.

“I know a lot of kids, personally,” Petlock said. “You can really touch base with them, and really get them involved in a great program.”

Along with spreading the ball around, the players also know they can’t get into any shootouts, either.

“Our team focus is definitely going to be playing good defense,” said Petlock. “Our offense is going to be a big part, too, but we’re not going to be able to score 70 points a game like we in the past. We’ve got to play great defense, and be efficient on offense.”

The third senior is forward Nick Vanderpool Jr. (5.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG), who brings length and a baseline jumper.

“I need to be a better passer, and score when I need to,” said Vanderpool. “I need to make the easy ones.”

Last year he was the newcomer, now he’s the veteran, and Vanderpool hopes to get some of the younger kids up to speed.

“It’s a faster game,” he said. “We need to be better with the ball, we had a lot of turnovers last year.”

He feels they have the potential to improve upon their four wins from a year ago.

“We want to have a winning record, and make it to the district playoffs.”

They might be closer than they think. Even though they only had four wins they were competitive in most of their losses - falling to Athens, NEB, Canton, and Sayre by single digits.

“We take pride in playing hard, and trying to play really good defense, and playing together on offense,” said Keyes. “I have no doubt that, if we work hard, we’ll be in games. We’re going to prepare the right way, we’re going to make sure we put our pieces together the right way, and then, hopefully, we can find enough scoring to get over the hump and win some of those close games.”

As for the league they know Troy returns most of last year’s district winning team, but the Rams feel everyone else in the league is in the similar boat, mixing in new faces with veterans.

“There’s some new coaches, there’s some turnover,” said Keyes. “I think with that said, I think in the last five or six years the league has taken a step forward in basketball on the boys’ side. I think that the league will be incredibly competitive, and we’ll just try our best to prepare every night, and hopefully we’ll be on the winning side of some games.”

ROSTER (Grade)

Trehnon Hugo (12)

Nick Vanderpool Jr (12)

Parker Petlock (12)

Landon Ayers (12)

Kenny Mapes (11)

Ashton Vandemark (11)

Gavin Vandemark (11)

Hunter House (11)

Will McBride (11)

Zabiah Walton (11)

Noah Dean (11)

Mason Culver (10)

Brock Slater (10)

Michael Phillips III (9)

Myles Kershner (9)

Parker Cunningham (9)

Bradyn Johnson (9)

Shay Gartland (9)

Jared Vandemark (9)

Owen Brown (9)

Tyler Caplan (9)

SCHEDULE

Dec. 1 vs Susquehanna, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 2 vs Blue Ridge, 3 p.m.

Dec. 6 at Canton, 7 p.m.

Dec. 11 at NPL, 7 p.m.

Dec. 13 vs CV, 7 p.m.

Dec. 15 vs Troy, 7 p.m.

Dec. 18 vs Elk Lake, 7 p.m.

Dec. 20 at Athens, 7 p.m.

Dec. 29 at Bill Babcock Tournament

Dec. 30 at Bill Babcock Tournament

Jan. 5 vs Towanda, 7 p.m.

Jan. 8 vs Williamson, 7 p.m.

Jan. 10 vs NPM, 7 p.m.

Jan. 12 at Wellsboro, 7 p.m.

Jan. 18 vs NEB, 7 p.m.

Jan. 23 at Sayre, 7 p.m.

Jan. 25 at Troy, 7 p.m.

Jan. 30 vs Athens, 7 p.m.

Feb. 1 at Towanda, 7 p.m.

Feb. 6 at NPM, 7 p.m.

Feb. 8 vs Wellsboro, 7 p.m.

Feb. 13 at Sullivan County, 8 p.m.

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