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鈥檚 trusty assistant, has now stepped into the head coaching role.
Smith is very familiar with the program.
鈥淚 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,鈥� Smith pointed out. 鈥淚鈥檓 also the president and founder of our youth program.
鈥淪o the transition was seamless. I鈥檝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鈥檙e trying to do. We鈥檙e just going to try to keep improving.鈥�
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.
鈥淩ight now my starting five is seniors Ethan Koffler, Jaden Ringer and Shane Layton and juniors Aiden Black and Antwan Black,鈥� Smith said.
Layton is LH鈥檚 center, Antwan Black will be a forward with Koffler, Ringer and Aiden Black as guards.
鈥淐oming off the bench, I鈥檝e got a couple sophomores, Luke Martin and Sevi Vecchiolla, a junior, Brennen Varney, and a couple seniors, Luka Sechevits and Dameon Pratt,鈥� Smith said.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 pretty much right now my 10-man rotation, if we use that many.鈥�
Smith is well aware of the wealth of talent Laurel Highlands lost from last year鈥檚 team which won a third straight section championship, tying Uniontown, and reached the final four of the WPIAL and the PIAA quarterfinals.
鈥淎ntwan started some games last year for us but otherwise we鈥檙e definitely a bunch of guys with little or no varsity experience,鈥� Smith admitted. 鈥淲e鈥檙e battling, working hard and doing the best we can.鈥�
Most of the Mustangs starters have stepped in and taken leadership roles, according to Smith.
鈥淐ollectively the starting five have all shown leadership ability and are continuing to evolve at each of their positions,鈥� Smit said. 鈥淚 look at Ethan Koffler as kind of like our silent leader. He just comes in and puts his head down and does what he鈥檚 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.鈥�
Smith named four coaches who will help him out in his first year at the helm of the Mustangs.
鈥淪handon Marshall is the head JV coach, and Paul Eckert and Dr. Jonathan Krizner are also on my coaching staff,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淎nd Carl Shusko is our freshmen coach.鈥�
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.