By: Ray Fisher 
Sunday, March 19, 2023 | 11:01 AM

Quaker Valley’s boys basketball team has a chance to make a little history in 2023-24.

QV has won 10 section championships in school history, but the Quakers have never won three in a row.

Next year’s team will have the opportunity to do just that.

“We really do not look at those things,” coach Mike Mastroianni said. “Our section is so competitive. We played a number of quality teams this season.

“Montour and South Allegheny will return almost their entire group of starters and both Avonworth and West Mifflin will return all-section players, so it is way too early to even discuss.”

Quaker Valley’s current section status reads as follows: The Quakers have won two consecutive titles, three in the past four seasons and four in the last six.

QV was the WPIAL champion and PIAA runner-up in Class 4A in 2021-22. The Quakers finished first in Section 2 with a 14-0 record and ended up 27-1 overall.

Behind a strong senior class consisting of guard/forward Amou Thiero (Kentucky), forward Markus Frank (Shippensburg) and guards Jack Gardinier (Susquehanna) and Wil Dunda, the Quakers were 24-0 against WPIAL opponents that year and 7-1 in the postseason.

Dunda played soccer this past fall for Geneva College, where he was named PAC Newcomer of the Year and second team All-PAC as a freshman midfielder. Geneva’s coach is Gary Dunda, Will’s dad.

Quaker Valley tied with South Allegheny atop the section with an 8-2 record this season then lost a WPIAL first-round playoff game to Belle Vernon. A 10-point loss to Montour in their final regular-season game cost the Quakers sole possession of first place.

“Obviously, it didn’t end the way we wanted,” QV junior guard Joey Coyle said, “but we will be back with more experience next year. I have high expectations for next year and I think we can win the section again if we stay disciplined.”

The 6-foot Coyle, who averaged a team-leading 17.8 ppg this season, will be one of three returning starters on next year’s team along with 6-3 sophomore forward Dom Cox-Giles and 5-10 junior guard Charlie Griffin.

Also looking to make an impact next year will be 2022-23 top reserves Dana Kromah, a 6-4 sophomore forward, Zach Washington, a freshman guard, and Rocco Luchette, a sophomore guard.

“We return six letterwinners next year, all of whom gained valuable experience,” Mastroianni said. “I look for all of our returning players to work in the offseason and continue to grow. Our game experience will be valuable to our team success next year.”

Coyle and Griffith were the only juniors on this year’s roster, while Cox-Giles and Kromah were joined by four other sophomores.

“Both Dom and Dana were sophomore post players this season,” Mastroianni said, “and although it is very early to determine roles (for next year), they both are excellent rebounders and the hope is for them to continue to grow their games and expand their roles.”

Washington was one of four freshmen on the 2022-23 squad.

The senior class was represented by guards Troy Kozar and Noah Jordan and forwards Daniel Bartels and Jackson Kerley.

Kozar averaged 10.6 points and 3.5 assists per game and shot a team-high 77% from the foul line. Jordan averaged 9.1 ppg and led the squad in 3-point field goal percentage at 42%.

“I thought we performed great as a team,” Jordan said. “We didn’t have much combined experience, so we had to get better together, which led to us being a good unit and helped us win tough games.

“It didn’t end the way we wanted, but winning the section was a big accomplishment for the team.”

The 6-3 Jordan was a two-year letterman in basketball and also is on the boys track and field team. He has a 4.17 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society.

He also is president of the Black Student Union and plans to attend a four-year college, where he will study business and continue his basketball career.

Jordan thoroughly enjoyed his time as a backcourt player for the Quakers.

“I was lucky to be a part of four great teams,” he said.

Quaker Valley won five of six games prior to the playoffs this year and ended the season with a 14-7 record.

South Allegheny (20-7) and QV were followed by Montour (9-14, 5-5), West Mifflin (10-13, 4-6), Avonworth (8-14, 4-6) and East Allegheny (3-15, 1-9) in the final section standings.

Five of the teams in the section advanced to the WPIAL playoffs.

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, March 5, 2023 | 11:01 AM

The section champion Quaker Valley boys basketball team had a tough draw in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs.

Really tough.

The Quakers, who shared the Section 4-4A championship with South Allegheny and received the No. 7 seed for the playoffs, lost to visiting Belle Vernon, 81-55, on Feb. 20 in their first-round matchup.

“I think Belle Vernon was the best team we played this year,” said junior Joey Coyle, QV’s leading scorer with a 17.8 ppg average. “I am proud of all my guys. We proved many people wrong and won the section.”

QV has captured back-to-back section titles and has been a section champ in three of the past four seasons and four of the last six.

“I am extremely proud of this group,” QV coach Mike Mastroianni said. “Their daily approach and their willingness to adapt and get better through adversity was a rewarding experience.

“The experience of getting better and becoming the best version of ourselves by winning a section championship is a great lesson for our players to experience moving forward.”

Belle Vernon, the 10th seed, finished third in Section 3-4A and entered the playoffs with a 10-11 record after losing four of its final five regular-season games.

The Leopards were the PIAA and WPIAL champions in Class 3A football last fall.

Nine members of the football team were listed on the BV boys basketball roster.

Quaker Valley won five of six games prior to the playoffs and ended the season with a 14-7 record.

But the skill, athleticism and physicality displayed by the Leopards were unbeatable in the first-round matchup.

QV kept it close in the first half and trailed 35-31 at halftime. The Leopards outcored the home team 46-24 in the second half.

Belle Vernon sophomore guard Zion Moore led all scorers with a 32-point performance. Coyle paced the Quakers with a 20-point showing.

“I would have to say the best player we played against was either Bryce Epps (of South Allegheny) or Zion Moore,” said Coyle, a 6-foot-1 guard. “I cannot pick just one; both are great players.”

Quaker Valley and South Allegheny, which landed the eighth seed for the playoffs with an 18-4 record, tied for first in the section with 8-2 marks. The two teams split decisions during the regular season while QV also lost to Montour and SA also fell to Avonworth.

The Quakers (46.3 ppg) and Gladiators (49.0 ppg) were two of the leading defensive teams in 4A.

Despite having losing records, Montour (9-14, 5-5), West Mifflin (10-13, 4-6) and Avonworth (8-14, 4-6) all qualified for the postseason out of Section 4.

Offensively, Quaker Valley was paced this season by Coyle and senior guards Troy Kozar (10.6 ppg) and Noah Jordan (9.1 ppg). The 6-3 Jordan was tops in 3-point field goal percentage at 42%.

Daniel Bartels, a 6-3 senior forward, Dana Kromah, a sophomore forward, and Coyle were the team’s leading rebounders. The 6-4 Kromah ended up No. 1 in blocks and field goal percentage at 63%.

Bartels was the only senior in the starting lineup against Belle Vernon and the only returning starter from last year’s WPIAL championship and PIAA runner-up team.

“I think we did really well this season,” Bartels said. “It was obviously a disappointing loss (to Belle Vernon), but we proved a lot of people wrong and were able to win the section. I’m definitely proud of this season.”

Bartels was a two-year starter and three-year letterman for the Quakers. He plans to major in either engineering or mechanical engineering in college.

“Overall, I’m very proud of my basketball career at QV,” Bartels said. “Winning the WPIAL and being a state runner-up last year are probably my biggest achievements, with winning the section this year a close second.

“All my teammates and coaches made my time on the team very valuable and memorable and overall very rewarding and special to be a part of so many great teams.”

Bartels, Kozar, Jordan and Jackson Kerley, a 6-3 forward and top reserve, represented the senior class on this year’s squad.

“Congrats to our four seniors,” Mastroianni said, “who were all four-year players and part of three section championships, a WPIAL championship and members of our state runner-up team. We will miss them and thank them for being a big part of our program the last four seasons.”

While Belle Vernon was a difficult opening-round draw, Bartels said South Allegheny was the top opponent to face the Quakers this year.

“I think the best overall team we played was South Allegheny,” he said. “They have a lot of experience and play well together. I also think the best player was Bryce Epps. We were able to contain him a bit better the second time around, but he was very hard to guard.

“Belle Vernon, with its size and athleticism, was by far the most athletic team we played all year. They have multiple guys that will probably play Division I football.”

One final statistic for the Quakers: Kozar, Coyle and 5-10 junior guard Brandon Griffith ranked 1-2-3 in assists.

Tags: Quaker Valley

By: Ray Fisher 
Sunday, February 12, 2023 | 11:01 AM

Joey Coyle has helped maintain the winning tradition in the Quaker Valley boys basketball program.

Coyle is a 6-foot-1, 175-pound junior guard and the team’s leading scorer this year, averaging 17.7 points per game. He also leads the Quakers in steals.

“My biggest influences in my basketball career are the guys that played here before me,” Coyle said. “I remember my dad would take me to watch the games and I would want to be just like them when I was older. For example, guys like Amos Luptak and Coletrane Washington.

“My favorite college player was Colin Gillespie. We are similar builds and have similar playing styles. I always try to model my game after his.”

The Quakers’ sharpshooting backcourt player leads the team in 3-pointers. He said one of his strengths is “just finding ways to score.”

And Coyle’s crackerjack shooting touch has not gone unnoticed by the Quaker Valley coaches.

“Our coaching staff is not surprised with Joey’s progress and outstanding season,” said Mike Mastroianni, the Quakers’ veteran coach. “Based on his play in his first two years in our program, he was ready to be a major contributor in all areas his junior year.

“Joey is an outstanding perimeter shooter with great ball skills and is a strong finisher around the basket. And his ability to defend as a sophomore enabled him to letter and contribute last season, and he continues to grow and flourish on that end of the court.”

One of Coyle’s best all-around games of the season came in a 65-36 win Jan. 21 against Canon-McMillan in the PBC Legends Classic at Moon. Coyle finished with 27 points, four 3-pointers, four rebounds, four steals and two assists.

“Going into the season. I had high expectations for myself. I knew I had to contribute a lot for us to win,” Coyle said. “In AAU and middle school hoops, I have always been one of the top scorers on my team. I feel like this year I have taken it to another level.”

Coyle racked up a career-high 30 points against Carlynton and 29 against Sewickley Academy in the season-opening Carlynton tip-off tournament. He and QV teammate Daniel Bartels were named to the all-tournament team.

Quaker Valley captured section and WPIAL titles last season, finishing 27-1 overall and as the PIAA Class 4A runner-up.

Four of the five starters on that championship team graduated. The only returning starter was Bartels, a 6-3 senior forward who is QV’s leading rebounder.

Bartels is flanked in the frontcourt by a pair of 6-4 sophomores, Dana Kromah and Dom Cox-Giles.

“Many people said going into the season that we would (be terrible),” Coyle said. “My teammates and I wanted to prove everyone wrong.”

Quaker Valley started the 2022-23 season by winning six of its first eight games and was 11-5 at the end of January, which included a 6-1 record in Section 4-4A.

“I think we have played very well this season, but we can do even better,” Coyle said. “My expectation is to make a run in the WPIAL playoffs.”

The Quakers edged South Allegheny, 46-43, in a key section matchup Feb. 7 at home, clinching at least a share of the section title. Senior guard Noah Jordan led the way for QV with 17 points and Coyle added 14.

Quaker Valley has won three section championships in the last four seasons and four of the past six.

The victory against the Gladiators was QV’s fifth in a row and seventh in eight games. The Quakers improved to 14-5 overall and 8-1 in the section.

QV averaged 54.6 points per game as a team through 19 games and has been led offensively by Coyle, one of the WPIAL’s leading scorers.

Along with his exemplary scoring, Coyle ranks in the top three on his team in assists, free-throw and field-goal percentage, 3-point percentage and rebounds.

“Joey is an outstanding 3-point shooter,” Mastroianni said, “and as a team we have really improved as the season has gone on and shot the ball well. Joey combines being a high-level shooter with a strong middle game and is a strong midrange shooter as well as an effective scorer off the dribble.”

Coyle, in fact, has been the Quakers’ “Mr. Consistent” in 2022-23.

“Joe has been consistent in his role all season, as well as our other varsity players, which has been a key factor in our team’s success,” Mastroianni said. “Joey leads through his actions and is an outstanding teammate and competitor. He is having an outstanding season and his consistent play in all areas has been a big factor in our play.”

Coyle, who started playing basketball at age 5, Jordan and senior guard Troy Kozar control the backcourt for QV with support from junior Charlie Griffith. Another integral player, sophomore guard Rocco Luchette, suffered a season-ending injury in his team’s section game with Montourin January.

Kozar, who with an 11.3-point average is the team’s second-leading scorer and is No. 1 in assists, hit a game-winning shot with 1.2 seconds remaining to lift QV to a 53-51 section win Feb. 3 at Avonworth.

The Quakers’ starting five consists of Coyle, Jordan, Kozar, Bartels and Kromah. Leading reserves include Cox-Giles, Griffith, freshman guard Zach Washington and senior forward Jackson Kerley.

Quaker Valley has advanced to the WPIAL playoffs 19 consecutive seasons dating to 2004-05. None of the players on this year’s team was even born yet when that impressive streak started.

The Quakers also have finished first or second in section play 15 times in 16 years.

By: Ray Fisher 
Sunday, February 5, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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A section title still was within grasp of the Quaker Valley boys basketball team in games at the end of January.

The defending WPIAL champion Quakers were tied with South Allegheny atop Section 4-4A with a 6-1 record. QV ended last month 11-5 overall; SA was 15-2.

“We have shown continued growth and a much better awareness of our roles and responsibilities,” QV coach Mike Mastroianni said. “I’m very proud of our progress with the limited experience we had entering the season.

“If you go back to our offseason play, our seniors have given us great leadership and have really led the way with a committed core of underclassmen.”

Quaker Valley started the 2022-23 season by winning six of its first eight games after finishing 27-1 — the Quakers won 27 consecutive contests — as the PIAA Class 4A runners-up a year ago.

QV was averaging 55 ppg and has been led offensively by junior guard Joey Coyle with an 18.1 ppg scoring average. Coyle also leads the team in steals.

“Joey is having an outstanding season, and his consistent play in all areas has been a big factor in our play,” Mastroianni said. “Joey is an outstanding perimeter shooter with great ball skills and is a strong finisher around the basket.”

Coyle and senior guards Troy Kozar and Noah Jordan control the backcourt for QV with support from junior Charlie Griffith and sophomore Rocco Luchette, who suffered a season-ending injury in his team’s 47-43 section win Jan. 17 against Montour

Kozar is the team’s second-leading scorer with an 11.8 ppg average. He is the team leader in assists, free-throw percentage and blocks.

The only returning starter from last year’s WPIAL championship squad was Daniel Bartels, a 6-foot-3 senior forward who is QV’s leading rebounder in 2022-23.

“I think overall we have done really well,” Bartels said. “A lot of people counted us out, so it feels good to be competing for the top of the section.

“Personally, I think I’ve done all right. There’s always room to improve. I think I’m still figuring out the best way to help all my teammates and find opportunities to score for myself. I’m definitely looking forward to the (postseason).”

Bartels is flanked in the front-court by a pair of 6-4 sophomores, Dana Kromah and Dom Cox-Giles.

The Quakers’ starting five consists of Coyle, Kozar, Jordan, Bartels and Kromah.

Leading reserves include Cox-Giles, Griffith, freshman guard Zach Washington and senior forward Jackson Kerley.

“Jackson Kerley has been injured for most of the season, and we are hoping he gets an opportunity to return some time in February,” Mastroianni said. “Charlie Griffith has been a top reserve and has also started a few games.”

QV was scheduled to play at West Mifflin, Avonworth and Montour and at home against South Allegheny in its final four section games. The Quakers defeated West Mifflin, 60-47, on Jan. 31.

“We have a difficult stretch of section games as we enter the last two weeks of the regular season that will have us ready for the playoffs,” Mastroianni said, “and we look forward to trending in the right direction with continued improvement.”

South Allegheny, meanwhile, began the season with 13 consecutive victories before a 61-56 nonsection loss to New Castle and a shocking 63-58 section setback to Avonworth.

The Gladiators were averaging a section-best 60.1 ppg as a team, led by four players averaging double figures.

The team leaders are senior guard Bryce Epps and his 23 ppg average and junior forward Michael Michalski with a 15.9 ppg average. Two other leading scorers are sophomore guard Cameron Epps (13.4 ppg) and junior guard Jeston Beatty (13.1 ppg).

Quaker Valley moved into Section 4-4A this year, joining Avonworth, East Allegheny, Montour, South Allegheny and West Mifflin.

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, December 4, 2022 | 11:01 AM

The Quaker Valley boys basketball team faces a tall order in 2022-23.

The Quakers are the defending WPIAL Class 4A and Section 2-4A champions. They posted a 14-0 section record and 27-1 overall mark last season after advancing to the PIAA championship game.

It was a banner season to say the least, but coach Mike Mastroianni is undaunted.

“We have the same expectations every year,” Mastroianni said, “to maximize our potential and compete for a section championship or a WPIAL and PIAA playoff position. As a young team and having a number of first-year players, our goal is to stay patient as we develop as a unit.”

Last year’s team was led by a talented group of seniors consisting of guard/forward Adou Thiero, now a freshman at Kentucky, forward Markus Frank, who is continuing his career at Shippensburg, and guards Wil Dunda and Jack Gardinier.

Dunda played soccer this fall for Geneva College, where he was coached by his dad, Gary Dunda. A freshman midfielder, Will Dunda was named PAC Newcomer of the Year and second team All-PAC.

Gardinier is playing basketball at Susquehanna College.

“We lost four starters from last year’s team that we leaned on in so many areas,” Mastroianni said. “We are young in game experience and expect to grow as the season moves forward.”

The lone returning starter is Daniel Bartels, a 6-foot-2 senior forward. who said he is looking forward to his final basketball season at QV.

“The goal every year is the section, WPIAL champions and PIAA champions,” Bartels said. “Compared to last year, I would say outside expectations are a lot lower, and I think that gives us a bit of an edge and a lot more confidence because we don’t have as many expectations as we did last year.”

Bartels also plays on the QV baseball team in the spring.

“We will lean on Dan for leadership and setting the level of expectation for our program,” Mastroianni said.

Also aiming to make contributions for the Quakers this season are senior guard Troy Kozar, junior guard Joey Coyle, senior forwards Noah Jordan and Jackson Kerley, junior guards Charlie Griffith and Israel Emerson, sophomore forward Dana Kromah, sophomore guard/forward Rocco Luchette and freshman guard/forward Zach Washington.

Mastroianni is looking for Kozar and Coyle to make an impact in the QV backcourt.

“Troy and Joey will be our floor leaders, and we expect the both of them to have outstanding seasons,” Mastroianni said. “They both have worked hard and are excited for the opportunity.”

The Quakers have moved into Section 4-4A this year, joining Avonworth, East Allegheny, Montour, South Allegheny and West Mifflin.

“The new section will be challenging,” Mastroianni said, “and 4A as a whole has a number of high-caliber teams that return a number of key starters. Our section parallels that with outstanding teams across the section.”

Bill Allmann

Special to the Times

December 20, 2022

AMBRIDGE  — The colors are the same and the name across the front of the jersey still reads “Quaker Valley.” 

But the 2022-2023 version of the Quakers boys high school basketball team isn’t otherwise anything like last year’s team that reached the PIAA championship game – and there’s a good reason for that. 

“We lost about 94% of our scoring from last year,” said veteran head coach Mike Mastroianni. “We have new roles now for everyone and do a lot by committee.” 

There is still one similarity from last year’s team though – they still win. 

Monday night, the Quakers improved to 4-1 by turning back a very feisty Ambridge squad, 46-41 at Ambridge’s Fieldhouse. The Quakers are now 4-1, while Ambridge falls to 2-5. 

After allowing an average of 70 points per game last year, the Bridgers have held five of seven opponents under 50. Junior Nino Rideout led the way with a game-high 18 points and freshman Jared Astorino added 10.  

This game, though, belonged the young Quakers, who are rebuilding and winning at the same time. 

“We’re still a very young team,” Mastroianni said. “We play very solid at times and, at other times, not so much. We played solid defense and we’ve been solid for a few games now.” 

That defense proved to be especially important in the second half as the Quakers scored just 16 second half points and still never lost the lead.  

As the game reached the final 30 seconds, Quaker Valley’s lead was a slim 43-41 but the Quakers sealed the deal when junior Joey Coyle sank both ends of a one-and-one with 11.9 seconds left. 

“I wasn’t really nervous,” said Coyle, who led the Quakers in scoring with 16 points, Last year, he was the Quakers’ sixth man on the WPIAL Championship team and learned his defense last year by guarding Jack Gardiner – who scored 36 in a PIAA playoff game - in practice. “I really haven’t got nervous throughout my career – I just block out the noise. 

“The transition hasn’t been that tough to my new roles – I played a lot of Junior Varsity last year and a lot over the summer.” 

Coyle’s scoring was supplemented by 10 points by Dana Kromah but the real show of Quaker Valley’s big game experience – even if limited for the players on the court – was the Quaker’s dominance at the end of every quarter. 

The Quakers scored the last points of every quarter – Coyle hit a three with 29 seconds left in the first, Noah Jordan hit a three at the halftime buzzer, Troy Kazar hit a three-pointer at the buzzer of the third, and Coyle closed the scoring in the game. That kind of clutch play until the buzzer will probably be important all season. 

“Every team will be at our necks this year,” said Coyle. “We smacked them last year.” 

So far, this year has been different, though, but in some ways the same.