Last year’s season for the Fox Chapel Area High School boys basketball team could be classified as one of transition. Fresh off a WPIAL championship, some Foxes had to learn new positions or fill different roles than they had in the past.
Head coach Zach Skrinjar hopes that bodes well for the upcoming season.
“A lot of the guys that we played were some younger guys that really did not have much varsity experience,” coach Skrinjar said. “We had the opportunity to work some of the guys from last year who may not have gotten a lot of playing time into different roles, so they’ll be in more prominent leading roles this year.”
The Foxes compiled a 15-12 record last season as it moved down to Class 5A and lost its opening game in the PIAA playoffs, 62-57, to District 3 champion Exeter. Exeter went on to advance to the PIAA Class 5A championship game.
Coach Skrinjar, who is entering his 15th season as Foxes head coach, leads a roster that sports a good mix of upperclassmen and their younger counterparts. He said three seniors, two juniors, and four sophomores are expected to get the majority of the playing time.
Seniors, including Jefferson “Boogie” Moorefield-Brown, Thomas Patterson, and Will Siegel, have experienced what it takes to win a WPIAL championship. Coach Skrinjar said that can only benefit this season’s squad.
“I think it’s a help in many ways, just seeing the work that those guys put in on the WPIAL championship team,” he said. “They became hungry last year and really come into this year ready to carve out their own legacy, knowing this is their senior year and kind of their last chance to achieve the goals we want to as a team.”
Boogie will be counted on to be a leader this season on and off the court, and Will brings grit to the lineup.
Juniors Asher White and Caden Kaiser will be counted on as well, plus a foursome of sophomores – Alejandro Betancourt-Jones, Anderson Dockey, Max Melocchi, John Rehak – have competed hard to earn significant playing time.
“This is probably the most athletic team we’ve had top to bottom,” coach Skrinjar said. “So we’re going to try to play a little more uptempo, try to use their athleticism to generate some easy hoops from their defense, try to generate some offense off steals and turnovers.”
The section looks to be a tough one with teams such as defending WPIAL champion Penn Hills, as well as Armstrong, Plum, Shaler, and Woodland Hills. The non-section schedule also features strong teams in Allderdice, Baldwin, Hempfield, Moon, Pine-Richland, and Shady Side Academy.
“We play a very challenging non-section schedule,” coach Skrinjar said. “Our hope is that the preseason schedule and that section grind is going to pay dividends when it comes time for the playoffs. We’re going to see a challenge every night, regardless of our opponent.”
The Foxes start their season on Friday, December 1, in the Upper St. Clair Tip-Off Tournament.
“Continuity is going to be big with this group,” coach Skrinjar said. “When you’re trying to play 9 or 10 guys, we need to find the right combinations, who’s playing well together, and getting everyone on the same page. We need to find guys comfortable in their roles, comfortable in their positions for the benefit of the team.”