The Patriots’ Anthony Cencetti tossed in two 3-pt. shots in the first half against Shippensburg earlier this year at Martz Hall. Cencetti is the lone returning starter from the Pittston Area boys baskeball team, which won the second district title in school history
Sunday Dispatch file photo
SCRANTON — Anthony Cencetti is the lone returning starter from the Pittston Area boys baskeball team, which won the second district title in school history when it routed North Pocono, 59-26, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Casey Plaza.
The Patriots also won a state tournament game for the second time ever, but also the second time in three years.
“It’s going to be tough, but I think with hard work, we can get back to where we were,” Cencetti said during an interview at Coaches vs. Cancer Media Day.
Cencetti will be counted on to lead the way.
Assistant coach John Walsh read prepared comments from head coach Al Semenza during the Wyoming Valley Conference Coaches Press Conference at Patte’s Sports Bar in Wilkes-Barre.
“Our offense will be built around our returning starter Anthony Cencetti, who we feel can be one of the top players in the division,” Semenza said in that statement.
Sophomore guard Silvia Giardina and senior Jack Long are the others who played key minutes on a 21-5 team last season.
Giardina “has the ability to score as well as some good court awareness,” according to Semenza.
The Patriots do not have a player taller than 6-foot-2.
The coach said the 6-1 Long will need to be a presence inside defensively.
“I hope to continue to bring energy and play good defense and do what I can offensively to help the team,” Long said.
The other two starters will likely come from seniors Rob Barbieri, Jacob Burnett and Ethan Clarke.
Sophomore Matt Walter is expected to join the other as the key reserves.
Ciaran Bilbow, the only junior on the roster, and sophomores Paul Jordan McGarry and Aiden Lynn are competing to try to work their way into the rotation.
The rest of the squad is made up of sophomores and freshmen.
Pittston Area was scheduled to open at home Saturday night in the Eugene R. DeMinico II Game against rival Wyoming Area. The game finished after deadline for this edition.
