Dec 18, 2023 By John Sacco 3 min read

Jefferson-Morgan boys basketball coach Brandon Lawless is waiting for a Rocket to step and speak up.

“Right now, our weakness is leadership and we’re lacking communication,” said Lawless, who is in his third season. “We have guys who are leaders but not vocal leaders. We just do not have anyone commanding the floor. We need someone to assume that role.

“It’s early. We also need more on-court awareness and game savvy. But, it is our biggest weakness.”

The Rockets are looking for a winning season after posting a 12-12 record last season. Jefferson-Morgan did finish 6-4 in section play.

“I want us to have a winning season, make the playoffs and win a couple playoff games,” Lawless said. “We’re all playing for a WPIAL championship, but I also have to be realistic.”

Jefferson-Morgan will again compete in Section 2-A with California, Geibel Catholic, Mapletown, Monessen and West Greene.

“Until otherwise told, Monessen is probably the front runner,” said Lawless. “I think California will be a surprising team, better than what people expect them to be. They have guys back who got playing time last year.”

Jefferson-Morgan will rely on a handful of players to work its way into section contention. That group includes senior Collin Bisceglia, juniors Houston Guseman and Jase Bedillion, and sophomores John Woodward, Dayten Marion, Jaymison Robinson and Brayden Ellsworth..

“We graduated three seniors and have a lot of returning starters,” Lawless said. “We also have two coming off the bench who played a vast majority of minutes last season.

“We have guys playing this year who have experience and we expect them to take a step forward and help us to have a winning season.”

Lawless is high on Guseman being capable of assuming more of a leadership role for the Rockets.

“Guseman is just a really athletic, 100-miles-an-hour, passionate about the game on offense or defense. He’s probably our leader because of the passion and energy he brings every day,” said Lawless. “Bedillion (6-3) and Marion (6-4) are big bodies who need to take a step forward and play above the rim. They are tall, long and lengthy good rebounders. We are working on using our bodies better to take advantage of the size we have.”

Other team members include: senior Caiden Payne, juniors Ryan Baker, Max Ivanusic, Lou Ruscitti and Franklin Staggers and freshmen Triton Farabee, Stephen Crowe, Noah Ealy and Miles Sowden.

Lawless said non-section games that should help the Rockets be a better team include West Allegheny, Fort Cherry, Waynesburg, Chartiers-Houston and Avella

Lawless is assisted by Brent Baker, Bruce Ellsworth and Ryan Jeffries.