After losing its top seven scorers from its back-to-back WPIAL-title winning team in 2018, not many would have expected a three-peat from New Castle in 2019.
The Red Hurricanes lost both of their regular-season matchups against Quaker Valley, and it seemed as though the Quakers were finally ready to dethrone the two-time defending champs. Instead, New Castle defeated Quaker Valley in the WPIAL championship game for the third year in a row, 60-54, giving Ralph Blundo six WPIAL titles since taking over as the team’s head coach in 2010.
“I think the difference between this most recent run is it was with three completely different teams, whereas the first championship was by and large the same guys for three years,” Blundo said. “This was a little different, and it’s a pretty different group again this year. But it’s kind of made it fun. A new challenge, a new group, new personalities — different things to manage and understand. It creates a nice challenge for our staff.”
Blundo and the top-ranked Red Hurricanes won’t have the luxury of flying under the radar this season as they seek their fourth consecutive title. Even after losing three starters, New Castle enters the season as the consensus favorite in Class 4A to hoist the WPIAL championship trophy at Petersen Events Center in March — unless you ask Blundo, of course.
“[Class] 4A is the best it’s been since I’ve been here,” Blundo said. “You could have picked Central Valley as No. 1, you could have picked Quaker Valley, Uniontown, Highlands — all of those teams, you can make an argument they’re the No. 1 team in 4A.
“But the good thing about it is it will all be played out in head-to-head competition, and we’ll know the reality come March.”
The Red Hurricanes don’t have one go-to scorer to look to when they need a bucket — they have three: 6-3 sophomore Michael Wells, 6-2 junior Sheldon Cox and 6-foot senior Demetris “Punkin” McKnight each averaged 13 points per game last season and should give the team one of the best trios in the WPIAL.
“I like to shoot the ball more than anything. I think that’s probably my best attribute,” Cox said. “I always win [the shooting competitions in practice], but I just don’t like to say I’m the best. Usually it’s me or Mike Wells.”
Wells had an impressive debut season as New Castle’s starting quarterback this fall, and Cox plays football as well for the Red Hurricanes. But it’s McKnight especially who prefers to use his football background to drive into the lane. He tallied 1,574 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2019 as one of the most dynamic tailbacks in the WPIAL.
“He’s definitely a football player playing basketball,” Cox said with a laugh.
Michael Graham, a 5-10 sophomore, and 5-11 freshman Isaiah Boice round out New Castle’s projected starting lineup, while 6-1 junior Don Cade and 6-1 senior Isaiah Carter should also see key minutes.
“This is kind of a different group,” Blundo said. “They remind me a lot of my group my first year. Very young, yet some experience. Whereas last year, we started three seniors, but they were very inexperienced seniors. A lot of variables when you consider this group, but there is some ability.”
Along with a lack of experience, the Red Hurricanes also had a noticeable lack of size last year, and this year is no different. Then again, most New Castle teams have had a similar makeup, and it hasn’t stopped Blundo from winning six WPIAL titles and a state championship while racking up 226 wins in nine years at the helm.
“We haven’t had the luxury of having 6-4, 6-5, 6-6 players since I’ve been here,” Blundo said. “But our overall size was better than it’s been. … In the past, 6-foot was a giant for us. But we’ve learned how to deal with that and maybe use that to our advantage at times.
“Again, it’s really about knowing who you are and what you’re good at and what your weaknesses are.”
Winning a fourth consecutive WPIAL title and 14th overall would break a tie with Farrell for the most in league history. But Blundo isn’t thinking about that now. The Red Hurricanes open up the season by hosting Westinghouse in the New Castle tournament at 8 p.m. Friday. It’s the third year in a row the teams have met on the opening weekend of the season, and they split the previous two matchups.
Holiday season is almost here, but first comes basketball season.
“I think they’re in a good place right now,” Blundo said. “We’ve had two good weeks [of practice], and the sooner that game comes, the better.”
First Published: December 5, 2019, 12:45 p.m.
