Colonials happy to be in Class 5-A
Fifth-year head coach Shea Fleenor hopes that moving to a classification where his team can play against schools its own size will benefit Albert Gallatin boys basketball this season.
The Colonials, who are coming off a season where they won one game in section play, are eager to be playing in Class 5-A, Section 1, against teams that are their size after years of playing against much larger school in the old Quad A.
“It is a huge difference for us to be in 5A,” Fleenor said. “We are playing schools that are our size and it is nice to see some new faces. We were just above the cut line when we played in Quad A, and we had to play much larger schools. However, it will not be easy for us and we won’t have any excuses because we are on a level playing field now.”
With the exception of Laurel Highlands, who Albert Gallatin played in two non-section games last season, all of the teams are new to Fleenor and his Colonials.
AG will play the likes of McKeesport, Ringgold, Thomas Jefferson, Trinity and West Mifflin.
“Other than Laurel Highlands, I really don’t know much about everybody,” Fleenor said. “I know McKeesport and West Mifflin lost some players. Thomas Jefferson knows how to win from its football program and it will be tough to go against them. I would say Trinity is probably one team everybody is looking at to be the front runner. We play them at their place for our first section game.”
Fleenor is excited to play the Mustangs in section games and also looks forward to a game at Uniontown.
“It is great to have two games against Laurel Highlands that will count in the section standings,” Fleenor said. “It means a lot for the rivalry and the community. I am also excited for our game at Uniontown. It is not the same gym but it is still a school that has such a rich basketball tradition, and I want our kids to be able to see that.”
The Colonials lost four starters last season but will have their leading scorer coming back in senior Tavian Mozie.
Mozie, who also plays football, averaged 21.7 points per game last season and is roughly 300 points from 1,000 for his career, which is something that has only been accomplished one other time since the Albert Gallatin consolidation. Mozie is a pure scorer who can drive, shoot the outside shot and is a strong at the foul line.
“We will lean on Tavian (Mozie) as a leader,” Fleenor said. “He has to be the guy in every aspect and he knows that. I think he will step up to the challenge. I believe he and Bryce Laskey from Laurel Highlands are two of the top players in the section.”
Mozie will attract much attention and possible double teams, and Fleenor will rely on senior guard Marques Moore to step up. Moore was AG’s sixth man last season.
“He (Moore) played many minutes off the bench last year and could have been a starter,” Fleenor said. “He had a really good summer and is looking to score more to pick up what we lost. We expect teams to double team Tavian. They both have quick first steps, plus they can shoot the three. They are close friends who know how to play with each other.”
Juniors Nate Bricker and Matt Rankin will serve as post players for the Colonials. Bricker has only played basketball for two years, while Rankin is in his third season.
“Nate (Bricker) is more of a traditional post player while Matt (Rankin) is like the energizer bunny who can can run the floor and shoot 3-pointers. They add something different to the party.”
Junior Colby Uphold came off the bench last season and the small forward is long and rangy, and has continued to improve.
“Colby (Uphold) has had the best set of practices to start the season,” Fleenor said.
Jake Magerko, Tim Dye and Jordan Alderson are Fleenor’s assistants.
“Winning is the focal point for this group,” Fleenor said. “We want to be the first team since our 2007 team that played in the WPIAL finals to make the playoffs.”