Doug Kelly has been coaching the Penn-Trafford boys basketball team for the past six seasons. He has never before heard the players talk about winning the section.
The 2025-26 Warriors are already talking about contending for the Section 1-5A crown.
“I like that they are thinking that way,” Kelly said. “They are willing to do it.”
Penn-Trafford finished the 2024-25 regular season by winning five of six games. They opened the WPIAL playoffs by stunning Section 3-5A champion and No. 2 seed Baldwin, 60-45.
The win guaranteed the Warriors a berth in the PIAA playoffs.
They lost their next four games, including a hard-fought PIAA first-round game at District 3 champion Hershey.
They lost to Mars, 64-59, in the WPIAL quarterfinals and then Uniontown, 86-73, and Moon, 75-59, in the seeding games.
The Warriors graduated five key contributors: Brayden Stone, Derek Carr, Tyler Anthony, Evan Gross and Jack Weishaar.
Returning are 6-foot-4 senior forward Zach Feldman and senior guard Tyler Boss.
Feldman emerged as a force in the playoffs. He scored 21 points against Baldwin, 18 against Mars, 21 against Uniontown and 14 against Moon.
“Uniontown did not have anyone that could stop me,” said Feldman, who averaged 13 points. “Coach Kelly likes to run our offense from inside out. When I score early, it opens up the outside.”
Junior guard Nick Ponko, senior guard Peyton Mastro, senior guard Ben Lenart and 6-4 junior forward Ethan McDonald are expected to make an impact.
“We have good guards again, and our bigs can run the floor,” Kelly said. “We have some diversity. We can play big and small. We have guys that can shoot it well.”
Kelly likes the depth of his team. He is planning to use 10 or 11 players per game.
The others expected to compete for playing time include 6-5 senior forward Jacob Briggs, junior guard Trent Brown, junior forward Blake Fasso, senior guard Anthony Spagnol, sophomore guard Caleb Dubyak, sophomore guard Orlando DeOrio and freshman guard Owen Hodge.
“The depth we have will see players competing for playing time,” Kelly said. “That is a good thing, especially if the players understand their roles and play together.
“The program is definitely making strides since I started. It is going to be competitive for playing time.”
Penn-Trafford has also upgraded its nonsection schedule.
The Warriors will play Norwin, Hempfield, Connellsville, Baldwin, Warwick, Thomas Jefferson and Trinity and a make trip to Front Royal, Va., to play Loudoun Valley.
Kelly hopes the upgraded schedule prepares his team for the tough section grind against Franklin Regional, Gateway, McKeesport, Latrobe, Albert Gallatin, Laurel Highlands and Uniontown.
“Our section is very tough,” Kelly said. “There are no easy games. It has good balance.
“There are good coaches and talented players. Playing together is important.”
If that occurs, the Warriors should be a threat in Class 5A.
Penn-Trafford boys at a glance
Coach: Doug Kelly
Last year’s record: 14-13 (8-6 in Section 1-5A)
Returning starters: Zach Feldman (Sr., F), Tyler Boss (Sr., G).
Others to watch: Peyton Mastro (Sr., G), Nick Ponko (Jr., G), Ethan McDonald (Jr., F), Ben Lenart (Sr., G).
Top newcomers: Trent Brown (Jr., G), Jack Briggs (Sr., F), Blake Fasso (Jr., F), Anthony Spagnol (Sr., G), Caleb Dubyak (So., PG), Orlando DeOrio (So., G), Owen Hodge (Fr., G).
SCHEDULE
12.2, at Norwin, 7:30 p.m.
12.5, Hempfield^, 7:45 p.m.
12.6, Connellsville^, noon
12.10, at Baldwin, 7:30 p.m.
12.12, at Franklin Regional*, 7:30 p.m.
12.13, at Loudoun Valley (Va.), 2:15 p.m.
12.16, Albert Gallatin*, 7:30 p.m.
12.19, at Uniontown*, 7 p.m.
12.23, at Latrobe*, 7:30 p.m.
1.6, McKeesport*, 7:30 p.m.
1.8, at Gateway*, 7:30 p.m.
1.9, at Warwick, 7:30 p.m.
1.13, Laurel Highlands*, 7:30 p.m.
1.16, Franklin Regional*, 7:30 p.m.
1.20, at Albert Gallatin*, 7:30 p.m.
1.21, Thomas Jefferson, 7:30 p.m.
1.23, Uniontown*, 7:30 p.m.
1.27, Latrobe*, 7:30 p.m.
1.30, at McKeesport*, 7 p.m.
2.3, Gateway*, 7:30 p.m.
2.4, Trinity, 7:30 p.m.
2.6, at Laurel Highlands*, 7:30 p.m.
*Section game
^Hempfield tournament