It been rough going in recent years for the Governor Mifflin High School boys’ basketball team. The Mustangs have won just one league game over the last two seasons, it’s been a very long time since their last winning season.
Of course life is tough for any basketball team in Division 1 of the Berks League. With teams like Reading, Exeter and Wilson to contend with, wins can be tough to come by.
This year head coach Tim Yanuskiewicz hopes things will be different. The good news is that they will be more experienced this year, with many key players returning from last year’s squad. The bad news is that their number one and three scorers from last year are not among them.
Tommy DePaul led the team in scoring with 317 points last year, but he’s gone due to graduation. They also lost Trevon Wight to graduation, who pumped in 185 points.
But they do have Reid Huff back for his junior season. He was second on the team with 254 points last year, averaging 11.6 points per game.
They also have Austin Peters back for his senior season. He was fourth on the team in scoring with 183 points (8.3 points a game), but had 36 of the team’s 92 three-point buckets last year. Hoff had 29 three-pointers, so the Mustangs will have some outside shooters to score some points.
Other players on the team include: Seniors – Colin McKight, Jason Quigley, Sevan Rodriguez and Luis DeLeon; Juniors – Jevon Willet, Trystan Ovid, Brandon Rodriguez, Jacob Klahr, Jack Creamer, Evan Pollock and Karel Strausser.
Willet, McKnight and Quigley all had significant playing time last year. Quigley averaged 4.2 points a game while McKnight was a perfect 12-for-12 from the line last year.
“This year’s key players are the team, plain and simple,” said Yanuskiewicz. “Collectively, our team can achieve great things. They need to become a band of brothers who together will motivate and encourage each other to improve each and every day.”
There aren’t any superstars on this team. That means that everyone is going to have to be on their game every night if this team is going to contend for a Berks League playoff spot. Despite the team’s recent history, that is the goal. But for that to happen, the team will really have to come together.
“We could be in the playoff hunt if team chemistry develops,” said Yanuskiewicz. “The players need to support each other, on and off the court, and accept their roles.
The Mustangs will open their season on the road at Manheim Township on Dec. 9, then play Lebanon at home on Dec. 11.
