Health key to Peters Township’s success
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Peters Township’s Thomas Melonja receives instruction during Monday’s practice. Melonja transferred back into the district from Lincoln Park earlier this year.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Peters Township’s Colin Cote takes a shot during practice Monday. Cote averaged 12.7 points per game last season for the Indians.
As long as Peters Township avoids injuries, the Indians almost assuredly will experience more success in boys’ basketball than last year.
During the 2017-18 campaign, the Indians lost four starters in 10 days. As a result, their 2-0 start spiraled into a 5-17 season that included only one section triumph and ended with a six-game losing streak.
“It was a tough year on a lot of levels,” head coach Gary Goga said. “We never want that to happen again.”
Déjà vu, however, crept into the preseason. After breaking his wrist, Thomas Melonja suffered a lower-body injury during a fall-league game against Penn Hills. The 6-7 senior guard, who transferred from Lincoln Park, is expected to be out to start the season.
“(Melonja’s) had some bad luck,” admitted Goga, “but he’s expected to play a key role in our success because he’s versatile and a leader. He brings a lot to the table.”
Melonja’s played in three WPIAL finals, including last year when Lincoln Park toppled Seton La-Salle, 62-47, at the Petersen Events Center. An outstanding three-point shooter and all-section performer, he averaged 11 points per game. While he played three seasons at Lincoln Park, Melonja is not new to Peters Township. After moving from Wisconsin when he was in fourth grade, he attended school in the district through eighth grade.
Familiar with all the players, Melonja has meshed in so well that he was elected team captain.
“He’s a complete player. A good kid,” said Goga, “and his energy is contagious.”
While Melonja has energized the Indians, his absence from the starting line for Peters Township does not dictate their prospects.
“We are not treading water until Thomas comes back,” Goga said. “I expect us to come out strong because we had a good summer. He wasn’t with us then. As a team, we’ve have gotten stronger and we have gotten better.”
Dax Ploskina and Colin Cote are two players that have improved. A 6-1 senior guard, Ploskina was averaging 10 points per game before he was injured last season. A 6-6 junior guard, Cote averaged 12.7 points per game.
“Dax is playing great basketball and is very focused,” Goga said. “Colin is an excellent shooter.”
While Max McCaig, a 6-5 senior center, is starting in Melonja’s absence, Sam Petrarca and Sean Werner round out the lineup. A 6-2, junior guard, Petrarca is a “very versatile player” that has really improved his shot says Goga. A 6-6 senior forward, Werner had a “great” offseason and is ready to make an impact.
Off the bench, Mike McDonnell, Benny Yeates and Shane Bartzcak will impact the Indians. The three guards will provide valuable minutes.
The Indians also expect contributions from Julian Masco, Luke Fountaine, Conor Duane and Mason Ziegler.
“Our sophomore guards like Julian will help us, but they need to keep working hard and develop,” Goga said. “Luke is a solid shooter. Mason does a little of everything and he’s very scrappy. Conor is probably our best defender. He plays very hard.”
On a nightly basis, the Indians must match that intensity of a deep section with Mt. Lebanon, Bethel Park and Canon-McMillan.
“The section will be back to being what it is. Highly competitive,” Goga said. “Every game will be a battle because everyone is the toughest section opponent that evening.”
Yet, the Indians have something that many of their rivals don’t this winter. After a season where they registered just one section win, they are starved for success.
“We are hungry,” Goga said. “Last year, we knew we had to improve and what it takes. I think we’ve done those things during the offseason. We want to continue that. We want to keep getting better everyday, play together and play hard. If we do those things, everything will fall into place.”