Valley News Dispatch Boys Player of the Year
Evan Moore
6-3, Jr., G, Deer Lakes
With the NCAA Tournament now at the Elite Eight, the journey through the first few rounds defined just what March Madness is all about with several low seeds busting some brackets.
The Deer Lakes boys did some bracket busting of their own as the WPIAL Class 4A No. 13 seed for some February Madness.
Junior guard/forward Evan Moore said he and his teammates felt confident they could show they were better than where they were slotted.
Derry and Hopewell, the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds, respectively, found out the Lancers’ power and potential, and No. 1 Quaker Valley almost fell victim to Deer Lakes in the semifinals.
Through it all in the regular season and the playoffs, Moore was a dependable force for a Lancers team that started the season with lofty expectations.
“I knew I had to step up from last year and play as hard as I could to help this year’s team keep winning,” Moore said. “I felt I improved my finishing at the rim and with my jump shots, and I also really worked on my post moves. I have a lot of motivation to know that I still have room to improve on things like ball handling and being more physical going into next season.”
Moore had many big moments in a season that saw him average a team-best 21.1 points while grabbing 7.1 rebounds a contest.
With his individual exploits and his determination to lead his team to playoff success, Moore is the Valley News Dispatch Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Knoch senior Teegan Finucan also was considered.
“We had a tough schedule that really helped us prepare for the playoffs,” said Moore, who scored 25 in a four-point loss to section rival North Catholic late in the regular season.
He had 28 points with nine rebounds against Class 5A power Penn Hills in the final game before the start of the WPIAL tournament.
“It showed that we could play with anyone in the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs,” Moore said.
Deer Lakes bounced back from the loss to Quaker Valley in the WPIAL semis and a setback to North Catholic in the consolation bracket to score a decisive 67-47 win over District 6 champion Huntingdon in the PIAA first round. Moore was dominant with 30 points and 12 rebounds.
The Lancers then topped District 10’s Hickory in the second round as Moore scored 17 to complement senior Collin Rodgers’ team-best 18.
“It was really refreshing to come out in the state playoffs and play well and get those wins after those couple tough losses,” Moore said.
Moore felt that a strong understanding of team chemistry and unity from the very start of the season helped establish a winning formula.
“We knew that we could make a run at the playoffs and make it deep in the playoffs,” Moore said.
“It was a thing where it was going to take everyone doing their part, and we all came together for that. We really believed in each other all season.”
Moore said it’s hard to believe how fast his first three varsity seasons flew by.
“Even though I didn’t play in the WPIAL title game (against Burrell) my freshman year, I remember being at (Petersen Event Center) and being a part of it all,” he said.
“Winning the WPIAL championship feels like it was just yesterday. It’s crazy how fast it’s gone since then. It makes you really appreciate all the games and the special moments.
“I am really excited for next year. We’re losing a lot in the lineup, so there will be opportunities for younger guys to step up and perform. We have those expectations going into every year.”
First team all-stars
Troy Bielak
6-6, Sr., G/F, Highlands
Bielak was a consistent scorer last year as the Golden Rams overcame adversity and earned a spot in the WPIAL playoffs. His production didn’t wane in his final varsity season as Highlands battled through a rugged Section 1-4A slate and punched its ticket to the postseason. Along the way, Bielak put up points and pulled down rebounds, leading the team in scoring at 17.5 points per game. He scored a team-best 17 in the close loss to Central Valley in the WPIAL first round. Bielak earned VND second-team all-star honors last year.
Vinnie DeFelice
6-4, Sr., G/F, Knoch
Experience was key to the Knights’ success this season, and DeFelice was a steady veteran presence in the run to gold at Petersen Events Center. Often a double-figure scorer, the three-year letterman and team captain led five Knoch scorers in double figures with 17 points in a rout of North Catholic in the WPIAL semifinals. He again scored 17, with points from the field and in pressure situations at the free-throw line, in the three-overtime loss to North Catholic in the state tournament. DeFelice finished the season averaging 13 points and five rebounds.
Teegan Finucan
6-1, Sr., G, Knoch
When the Knights needed a big play in a game during their run in the regular season or postseason, Finucan was often there to deliver. He finished the season scoring 16.5 points a game as Knoch captured the WPIAL Class 4A championship at Petersen Events Center. Finucan scored 22 in a WPIAL quarterfinal win over Central Valley, and the program’s all-time leading scorer tallied 26 in a triple-overtime thriller against North Catholic in the PIAA second round. He led the way with 18 in a PIAA first-round win over Girard.
Collin Rodgers
5-10, Sr., G, Deer Lakes
The Lancers standout’s impact didn’t fall off when he transitioned from soccer to basketball. The VND Boys Soccer Player of the Year continued to shine on the hardcourt as he averaged 14.3 points while shooting better than 70% from the free-throw line. He also had a propensity to find the open man with five assists a game. A VND second-team honoree as a junior, Rodgers’ senior-year efforts helped Deer Lakes earn a spot in the WPIAL semifinals and the PIAA quarterfinals.
Robbie Simmen
6-1, Jr., PG, Springdale
The Dynamos finished the season 12-10 overall, and their 9-5 mark in Section 1-2A put them comfortably in the WPIAL playoffs. Simmen fronted Springdale’s efforts throughout. He was one of the area’s top scorers at 22.1 points a game while adding 7.1 rebounds a contest. Simmen also was a distributor, averaging 4.8 assists, and he helped the defense by recording 3.2 steals a game. Simmen joins the VND first team after picking up third-team honors as a sophomore.
Second team
Zane Beatty
6-5, Sr., C/F, Apollo-Ridge
Amaree Gonzalez
6-0, Sr., G, Kiski Area
Derek Lang
6-7, Sr., G/F, Knoch
Owen Proskin
6-4, Sr., F, Plum
John Rehak
6-2, Sr., G, Fox Chapel
Third team
Carson Kane
6-0, Sr., G, Freeport
Joseph McGivney
5-10, Jr., G, Fox Chapel
Ryan McCarthy
6-0, Jr., G, St. Joseph
Adam Wass
5-10, Sr., G, Burrell
Brady Rochkind
6-2, Sr., F, Cheswick Christian
Honorable mention
Liam Avon, 6-5, Jr., F, Knoch; Liam Dexter, 6-4, Jr., F, Springdale; Sam Conte, 5-11, Sr., PG, Burrell; Carmine Lacava, 6-3, Sr., G, Highlands; DJ Lindenfelser, 6-0, Jr., G, Kiski Area; Luca Mangieri, 6-1, Sr., G/F, Deer Lakes; Brayden Myers, 5-11, Sr., G, Apollo-Ridge; Bryce Nabozny, 6-1, So., G, Plum; Rex Roberts, 5-10, Jr., F, Riverview; Joseph Rosio, 5-9, Sr., G, Cheswick Christian; Gavin Tola, 5-10, Jr., G, Freeport; Nick Tometsko, 5-10, Fr., G, St. Joseph.