Jeannette’s athletes have football on their minds with passing scrimmages underway and training camp just two months down the road.
But the new-look Jayhawks took to the basketball court Thursday night to give fans a glimpse of what is coming next winter.
“I don’t get them all in a group this early, so this is nice,” Jeannette coach Adrian Batts said. “We’ll play some games here and at the Pitt team camp (Friday). We’re done June 30, and they’re on to football.”
The Jayhawks opened the sixth Tre Cunningham Memorial Basketball Tournament with the late Jayhawks’ standout and event namesake on their minds — and an eye to the future.
Cunningham was a three-sport athlete at Jeannette. He died in a motorcycle accident in 2020. The tournament carries on his name with the same pride Jeannette has in its sports teams.
Jeannette blew past Yough, 56-31, as rising seniors Markus McGowan and Jayce Powell combined for 40 points.
“You always think you can win a championship. That doesn’t change,” said McGowan, the TribLive Westmoreland player of the year and all-state first teamer who had 21 points in the tourney opener.
Said rising senior guard Powell (19 points): “This group is better than (last year’s team) at some things. We’re going to have a ton of depth. I think we’ll be in a lot more sets. Last year, we played more free.”
While the team lost three key seniors to graduation, there is plenty coming back for Jeannette, which won a WPIAL 2A title two years ago and finished as the runner-up last season. The Jayhawks are 49-6 the last two years — 24-3 last season — and made the PIAA quarterfinals both times.
Starters Kymon’e Brown, Xavier Odorisio-Farrow and Noah Sunder are gone, but four of the top eight in the rotation return for Jeannette.
“We’re going to be good if we play as a team,” rising senior McAlister Steele said. “We have to fill some roles. We’re going to be a little bouncy.”
Powell and Steele are expected to have a major impact on football this fall. Both are receivers, Powell plays defensive back and Steele is a talented kicker.
The 6-foot-3 McGowan revealed he isn’t playing football but will try another sport.
“Soccer,” he said. “Center back. I played when I was little. I want to play so I can stay in shape.”
Back to hoops, Batts anticipates Jeannette’s drastically different section to be strong. It will house Eden Christian, Riverview, Springdale, Neighborhood Academy and Winchester Thurston.
“It might be the toughest section in double-A,” Batts said. “You might have the top three (ranked) teams from our section.”
The Jayhawks will need new rivals. Greensburg Central Catholic dropped to Class A, whereas postseason archenemy Sewickley Academy voluntarily moved up to 4A.
Other Cunningham tournament winners Thursday were Ringgold (2-0), Greensburg Salem and Penn-Trafford.
Seeding games continue Friday at Jeannette with Westmont Hilltop vs. Norwin at 6 p..m, Belle Vernon vs. Greensburg Salem at 7, Westmont Hilltop vs. Hempfield at 8 and Belle Vernon vs. Mt. Pleasant at 9.
Two games will be played at Jeannette McKee Elementary School: Mt. Pleasant vs. Norwin at 7:30 and Penn-Trafford vs. GCC at 8:30.
A single-elimination tournament will be played beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday at the high school. The championship is set for 5 p.m.
Tre Cunningham Memorial Basketball Tournament
Thursday’s results
Jeannette 56, Yough 31
J: Markus McGowan 21, Jayce Powell 19; Y: Wyatt Kalna 10, Hayden Smith 10
Ringgold 69, Norwin 33
R: Chris Wilson 20, David Wachinski 13, Lance Johnson 12
Greensburg Salem 59, Yough 45
GS: Solomon Cain 21, Jackson Stevey 18; Y: Tyler Smith 21
Penn-Trafford 44, Hempfield 35
PT: Ethan McDonald 13
Ringgold 71, Greensburg Central Catholic 35
R: Lance Johnson 12, Takeo Tolliver 12, David Wachinski 12