Belle Vernon boys basketball might be without college football commits Martin, Laux for season

By: Ted Sarneso
Monday, November 13, 2023 | 3:33 PM

The Belle Vernon boys basketball team could be without its star player for 2023-24.

Quinton Martin committed in April to play football at Penn State next year and might leave early for Happy Valley.

“I haven’t talked to him yet. I’ll talk to him after football’s over and go from there,” coach Joe Salvino said. “Quinton’s one of our leading scorers and my leading rebounder. Someone’s going to have to pick up the pace and do those things.”

The Leopards also might be without Braden Laux after he commited to Eastern Michigan in July.

Salvino has a host of returning veteran players he can choose from to make up for the loss should Martin and Laux choose not to play.

It will start with the Leopards all-junior back court: Alonzo Wade, Trevor Kovatch and Zion Moore.

“Alonzo will be one of our leaders. It’ll be his third year on the varsity team,” Salvino said. “Zion played well for us last year and in the summer, so he’s going to be a guy we’re looking forward to, and Trevor is a hustler and one of our best defensive ball players.”

The Leopards also will look for contributions from junior forward Tommy Davis, who played some minutes last year, and sophomore guard Curtis Wade.

“Tommy is a good kid, and he saw time last year,” Salvino said of his 6-foot-6 forward. “He’ll be our post guy, and we’ll use him some on the outside because he’s got a great shot. Curtis showed us a lot during summer, and we look for great things from him. Both have taken strides in the offseason.”

As is the norm, the boys basketball team will have to wait for football season to come to an end before the roster picture begins to clear. This year, Salvino has a plan in place to be ready when that time comes.

“I have to be a little more patient,” Salvino said. “I thought I could get kids through a lot of things offensively and defensively without a review, but when they came back, they were still in football mode. I have to take the time to get the players into basketball mode.”

Salvino hopes the transition is quicker this year and the Leopards can get off to a better start and make it back to the playoffs, where they lost 75-71 to Laurel Highlands in the Class 4A quarterfinals.

“As always, I’d like to win the section,” he said. “Then make the playoffs and go from there. See if we can make a great run in the WPIAL.”

With or without Martin, the section should provide another tough challenge for the Leopards.

“I think Elizabeth Forward’s good, and, of course, Uniontown is going to be one of the better teams for sure,” Salvino said. “I think Southmoreland showed they have a ballplayer or two. Laurel Highlands, even though they lost a couple of kids, they always have good basketball up there.”

Time will tell if the Leopards will be without two of their top players, but even without their talents, Salvino knows his veteran group can guide his team back to the playoffs.

“I think it’s always good when the players have played together for any number of years. Most of the guys have been with me three years or more. That’s going to be a positive for us,” he said.

Belle Vernon boys basketball at a glance

Last year’s record: 10-13 (5-5 in Section 3-4A)

Returning starters: Zion Moore (jr., G), Trevor Kovatch (jr., G), Alonzo Wade (jr., G)

Top newcomers: Tommy Davis (jr., F), Curtis Wade (so., G), Dominic Ghilani (jr., G)

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