Mustangs end successful season in WPIAL playoffs
MONONGAHELA — When the 2025-26 boys basketball season began, Laurel Highlands wasn’t high on many of the “experts” list to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.
The Mustangs were 5-17 last season, and playing in Section 1-5A with the likes of cross-town rival Uniontown, among other strong teams, didn’t have many believing in LH, but coach John Smith’s squad proved the naysayers wrong in qualifying for the postseason in District 7 after finishing the regular season on a four-game winning streak that included victories over Franklin Regional, Albert Gallatin, Uniontown and Penn-Trafford.
Laurel Highlands had its successful season come to an end on Thursday night in the preliminary round of the WPIAL Class 5A boys basketball playoffs at Ringgold High School, as the Rams used a 10-2 run in the first quarter to take control, and pulled away in the second period for a 64-39 victory.
Ringgold (14-9) advanced to the first round of the district postseason, where they will play No. 2 seed Lincoln Park (16-5). Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Mustangs’ season ends at 13-9.
“When I went in this year, my contract was up, obviously, and when I spoke to the school board, my anticipation this year, realistically, was if we could get double-digit wins, that would be a step in the right direction,” Smith said. “These kids bought in, and not only did we do that, but we made the playoffs. We had some big section wins. I’ve been honest with this group.”
Ringgold had three players in double figures, as Dennis Hawkins and Takeo Tolliver scored 12 points each. Demetri Lowe added 11 points.
Laurel Highlands senior Luke Martin scored nine points in his final high school game. He connected on four field goals, including one 3-pointer. Fellow senior Sevi Vecchiolla added seven points on one field goal, and was 5 of 6 from the foul line.
“It has been a pleasure to coach these kids, and I’m blessed to be a part of it,” Smith said. “It’s tough not being able to coach our two seniors again, but that’s the life of a high school basketball coach.”
The Mustangs will need to replace Martin and Vecchiolla next season, but Smith likes what he has coming back.
“We are fairly young,” Smith said. “Our underclassmen are tough, and I think we are going to be in the playoff hunt for the next few years. I am looking forward to it. The boys played hard, and they put in a lot of work in the offseason, and that’s what I told them in the locker room. I said, ‘You guys are going to get about a month off, then we will get back in the weight room.’ They are a great group of kids, good families and it was a very enjoyable season.”
The Rams’ run began when an offensive rebound led to a three-point play from David Wachinski for a 13-8 lead with 2:20 remaining in the first period. Chris Wilson and Hawkins scored on back-to-back baskets in transition before Jude Packrone scored for the Mustangs.
Wachinski nailed a three-pointer as the quarter came to a close for a 20-10 advantage.
Ringgold outscored Laurel Highlands, 21-7, in the second quarter for a 41-17 halftime lead. The Rams had a 16-8 advantage in the third period, and with Ringgold’s starters off the floor in the fourth, the Mustangs had a 14-7 edge.
“They are a big, athletic team across the board,” Smith said. “They were three, four inches taller than us at every position. They have a Division I athlete (Lowe) who is going to Akron to play football. They are long, athletic, and when they got into that 1-3-1, that gave us a lot of problems.”
Laurel Highlands juniors Packrone, Tyrone Burton and Kayden Smith will return next season as three of the Mustangs’ starters. Burton scored six points against the Rams, while Packrone had five and Smith added four.