With an inexperienced roster that has a plethora of depth, the Kiski Area boys basketball team has had a roller-coaster type of season that has led to a .500 record through its first 12 games.
With eight games remaining, fifth-year coach Corey Smith and the Cavaliers are looking to put things together to secure a spot in the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs.
“We started off 6-6, and that means you’re up and down,” Smith said. “We’re still working. We’re still trying to figure out some stuff. It’s halfway into the season, and I realize that, but we’re going to continue to work at it, grind and practice.”
After winning a WPIAL Section 2-5A title last year, Smith and the Cavaliers entered the season looking to fill four spots in the starting rotation. Gone were the likes of TribLive A-K Valley all-stars Collin Keller and Carson Heinle.
Finding replacements for that strong senior class has come with its fair share of growing pains and inconsistent play.
Still, the Cavaliers have also earned their fair share of good wins. They took down 9-3 Indiana, 55-51, on Dec. 16 and beat 6-5 McKeesport on its home court Jan. 3. Despite never winning more than two straight games this season, Smith has seen glimpses of how good his team can be. But there’s still room for them to grow during its stretch run.
“It’s just been up and down, week-by-week, game-by-game,” Smith said. “We beat McKeesport at McKeesport. We got Indiana. We lost to Upper St. Clair by nine. That’s the No. 2 team in (Class) 6A. So, yeah, we’re 6-6. We’re right there. I’m not worried.”
Amaree Gonzalez, the team’s lone returning starter, has led the way for the Cavaliers. Junior DJ Lindenfelser and seniors Corrado Hutcherson and Aven Shirley also have stepped into big roles.
Shirley was a standout on the football field for the Cavaliers in the fall and has earned a role as one of the team’s best defenders. Lindenfelser and Hutcherson also have improved from a year ago and earned increased playing time.
“There are a lot of roles that we have within the team. We just have to put it together,” Smith said. “When we do put it together, the results will speak for themselves.”
There are several things Smith said his team can do to take another step forward, but it starts on the defensive end.
A year ago, the Cavaliers allowed the second-fewest points per game (48.2) in Class 5A, trailing only South Fayette (46.9). This season, the Cavaliers rank third despite allowing 45.7 points per game. In their losses, however, they’ve allowed 52.3 points per game.
Smith said their improvement on defense will come from learning the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents while also getting used to the physicality of Class 5A basketball.
“With that experience, I think it was a shock to some of the even starters and bench guys of how physical 5A basketball is, how intense it is, how competitive,” Smith said. “There are great coaches all around this area. The difference is being prepared and playing hard.
“I take pride in knowing what our opponents are going to do and us being prepared for it in practice and through film. We just have to go out there with a different attitude and just want it more than our opponent does because we are the section champs from last year, and I believe Kiski is circled on everyone’s schedule.”
With eight section games remaining, Kiski Area is fifth in the Section 2 standings. The Cavaliers host Plum on Friday before facing all four teams above them in the standings in over their next five games.
They will finish the season against section leader Penn Hills on Feb. 5. So, there’s still plenty of time left to improve their chances to make the playoffs, and Smith said he believes his team will turn the corner.
“I believe that we are going to take care of business in the next couple of weeks,” Smith said.