The Monessen boys’ basketball team is gearing up for what they hope will be their 43rd straight trip to the WPIAL playoffs. Head coach Dan Bosnic is confident but realistic, acknowledging the challenges ahead for the Greyhounds this season.

“We always aim to stay competitive and be in the mix,” said Bosnic, who has led the team to a solid 98-46 record since taking over in 2018. He stepped into the role after longtime coach Joe Salvino, a legend with over 700 career wins spanning four decades. Salvino now coaches at Belle Vernon.

Bosnic shares Salvino’s focus on playoff success, emphasizing, “Our goal is to put our players in positions to succeed when it matters most.”

However, the team will feel the absence of Lorenzo Gardner, their standout scorer who graduated and now plays at Westmoreland County Community College. Gardner averaged an impressive 23 points per game during his last two high school seasons. With him leading the charge, Monessen reached the PIAA playoffs last year but fell in the first round to Elk County Catholic. Despite that, they finished with another strong season at 20-6, following a 21-4 record the year before.

“There are a lot of new faces this year,” Bosnic admitted. “But we do have some returning players with varsity experience. We’re figuring out how to fill the gaps left behind. That’s just how it goes in Class A basketball.”

The WPIAL Class A league looks a bit different this season after enrollment changes. Monessen and Geibel Catholic remain in Section 2, but California, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown, and West Greene have moved up to Class 2A. Their spots have been filled by Environmental Charter, Neighborhood Academy, Serra Catholic, and St. Joseph.

Monessen’s key returning players include senior guard Davontae Robinson and junior forward Rodney Johnson, both three-year starters. They’ll be joined by promising young talent, such as 6-foot-4 forwards Tayvin Craggette and Dennis Hawkins, along with other players stepping into larger roles.

“We don’t have a lot of experience this season,” Bosnic explained. “In the past, our offense relied heavily on Gardner’s scoring ability. Without him, we’re a different team. We don’t have guys with that kind of scoring track record yet, so we’ll need to focus on improving our defense to make an impact.”

Key players to watch this season include junior forward Tayvin Craggette, junior guard Jaylen Fritz, sophomore forward Dennis Hawkins, and junior guard Dariyion Prince.

Monessen faces a rebuilding year but remains determined to keep their playoff streak alive and continue their tradition of excellence in Class A basketball.