Mount Pleasant Area Boys

Head Coach: Mark Katarski – 1st Season

Conference: Class 3A Section 4

Last Season: 0-22 overall

Key Losses: Aidan Johnson, Richard Stoner

Key Returners: Jordan Grieff, Kade Hutchinson, Gage Valone

Promising Newcomers: Isaiah Taylor

Circle the Dates: Mount Pleasant plays at Ligonier Valley to begin section play on December 19th. The Vikings will face local rival Derry Area in a non-section game at the WCCA Showcase on December 20th and plays Southmoreland on January 9th and February 3rd.

Last year was a tough season for the Mount Pleasant boys basketball program, unable to muster a single win finishing with an 0-22 record. After three losses to finish the 2023-24 season, the Vikings entered this year lugging a 25-game losing streak.

In comes veteran head coach and Mount Pleasant alum Mark Katarski who replaced Annie Malkowiak following two seasons. Katarski coached the Hempfield Area boys last year and most notably guided the Seton Hill women's basketball team for 10 seasons.

The coaching change has already paid dividends for the Vikings as they opened the season with a 51-26 triumph over Yough to snap the winless drought, the second longest in the WPIAL.

"I'm really happy for this group of young men," Katarski said afterwards. "They've wanted this in their minds, but they just needed to have it happen on the court."

Sophomore Cole Massari tallied nine points in the game against the Cougars to pace Mount Pleasant. He's one of several players who will be heavily leaned upon this year along with seniors Jordan Grieff and Gage Valone, junior Kade Hutchinson and sophomore Isaiah Taylor.

"We're trying to focus on each day as a chance to improve, while simultaneously, trying to figure out what this team, this season, needs to be their best," Katarski commented regarding their season outlook.

"To this point, the group has been invested and engaged, and excited to be there each day. The non-conference matchups will be challenging, along with a highly competitive section. We will do our best to be our best each and every night,” he added.

Mount Pleasant next plays at Environmental Charter school on Thursday before turning its attention to Armstrong in a non-section game on Saturday.

Mount Pleasant Area Girls

Head Coach: Scott Hillen – 2nd season

Conference: Class 4A Section 3

Last Season: 6-16 overall, lost to North Catholic in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs

Key Losses: Kayla Rumbaugh

Key Returners: Grace Arrigo, Lexie Baker, Addison Cole, Ryleigh Drzal, Morgan Gesinski, Laurel Rummel, Tori Tepper, Danica Trainer

Promising Newcomers: Charlotte Brodak, Sophia Coppula

Circle the Dates: Mount Pleasant opens section action hosting rival Yough on December 11th. The Vikings will begin January with a pair of home contests against Southmoreland and Belle Vernon on January 5th and January 8th.

Mount Pleasant finished the regular season last year by winning three of its last four games to earn a spot in the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs. Despite a 62-23 first round loss to North Catholic, the Vikings got a taste of the postseason. That experience will prove invaluable to the many returning players this season as the Vikings lost just one player to graduation in Kayla Rumbaugh.

Back in the fold this year are starters Grace Arrigo, Danica Trainer, Ryleigh Drzal and Morgan Gesinski. Senior guards Lexie Baker and Laurel Rummel are also expected to have big roles this season.

"There is more excitement to start this season than last season. I think we all have become more comfortable with each other and that awkward stage of getting to know a new coach and staff is gone," said second-year coach Scott Hillen who added the players started the season with a midnight practice which further expressed their excitement.

Despite returning a number of players to the fold this year, Hillen pointed to a lack of confidence as being one of the issues they are working through early this year.

"We have a good group of girls who work hard, but our biggest problem is our confidence," Hillen explained. "The coaching staff believes in the girls and we know what they can do. We just need to get them to believe in themselves and their teammates."

Mount Pleasant matches up against Hempfield Area at the Greensburg Salem tournament on Friday. Their section opener will be against rival Yough at home on December 11th with games against Southmoreland and Belle Vernon to begin the new year.