Pittston Area’s JJ Walsh watches as he makes a basketball during a 2020 game against Dallas.
Sunday Dispatch file photo
WILKES-BARRE — Al Semenza is in his third season as Pittston Area boys basketball coach and J.J. Walsh is right there with him for his third season as starting guard.
“He’s a shooter; he can defend,” Semenza said. “He’s going to be our team leader.”
Walsh, a returning all-star, is part of a senior-heavy roster as the Patriots try to improve on last season’s 9-10 finish that included a slip to 4-8 for sixth place out of seven teams in Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1.
“I think we can shoot the ball,” Semenza said during WVC Boys Basketball Media Day Dec. 5 at Patte’s Sports Bar. “We’re going to have to defend.
“I liked our first two scrimmage.”
The Patriots were scheduled to open the season Saturday night in Nanticoke, after presstime for this edition of the Sunday Dispatch.
After Walsh, who led the team, the Patriots graduated their next three scorers. They do return two others from last season’s top six, with seniors Dominic Jannuzzi and Jack Locker.
“Dominic Jannuzzi had a good offseason for himself and has looked good in scrimmages,” Semenza said.
The coach said Walsh, Jannuzzi, Locker and fellow senior Ethan Ghannam will join juniors Rob Barbieri and Jack Long and freshman Silvio Giardina among the seven who appear set to be part of the rotation. Barbieri brings defensive toughness while Long can help out inside, which Semenza characterized as “an area of concern” for the team.
Brayden Powers, another senior, is leading the competition to join the mix.
“We have a number of seniors who are battling for playing time,” Semenza said.
The team’s 15-player roster includes nine seniors, four juniors and two freshmen.
Ghannam is a 6-foot-4 forward.
Senior Yvon Jones is team’s tallest player at 6-5, but he is new to the program this season.
The Patriots play their home opener Monday against Lackawanna League small school power Holy Cross, then meet North Pocono Friday night in the Conference Challenge at the Lackawanna College Student Union.
The Conference Challenge features two games Friday and two Saturday, each sending a WVC team against a Lackawanna opponent. MMI Prep and Susquehanna play in the 6 p.m. Friday opener before Pittston Area-North Pocono.
The Patriots play the annual Eugene DeMinico Memorial Game at Wyoming Area Dec. 22. They have left the McGrane Tournament at the Wyoming Valley Catholic Youth Center to play in the Anthony “Badger” Marseco Memorial Tournament Dec. 28-30 at Old Forge.
