It might be a familiar refrain for some basketball fans, but it’s a message that also carries a great deal of weight for first-year Pleasant Valley mentor Bobby Hahn.

Trust the process.

The phrase coined by former 76ers General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Sam Hinkie gained traction as the franchise dealt with hard times, and it’s one that also holds true for Hahn and his Bears.

It was a mantra the coach reiterated after Central Catholic defeated PV 75-40 in an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference contest Tuesday night.

“I see that guys are gaining experience, guys are starting to play better,” said Hahn. “Obviously, overall, it’s tough. But I’m seeing things change. I’m seeing guys do different things; I’m seeing the drives, I’m seeing the defense, I’m seeing the post moves. I’m seeing that guys are improving, and that’s the key.

“The scoreboard, it’s frustrating for anyone to see. But I do see them do the little things when I watch the game film. I see that every guy is getting a little bit better.”

Hahn and the Bears (0-10) are still building their brand of basketball.

“This part of the schedule is very tough, so we might take our lumps here,” said Hahn. “But we’re getting better. I see that we have younger guys that are playing better. And the most important thing is that every guy on our team has a great attitude. And that’s a thing that, even though it can be frustrating that we’re losing, we come into practice the next day, and everybody is ready to work. And that’s how you get better.

“The guys are not giving up, and the coaching staff is not giving up. As a team, we’re going to keep grinding, and we’re going to keep working because it’s not a one-year thing. Everyone’s got to keep working to get better and better, game-by-game-by-game, and then see what you can do.”

The Vikings (7-4) were simply superior, knocking down 14 three-pointers in an attack that went into high gear during the second quarter. A 20-0 run to open the period turned an eight-point advantage into a 39-11 lead.

“That’s where we’ve been trying to grow is playing more as a team on the offensive end of the floor,” said Central Catholic head coach Dennis Csensits. “And we shot the ball extremely well tonight, which helps.”

Chad Kratzer led the way for the Vikings with 23 points, while Samuel Vaughan connected for six 3s and finished with 18.

ACC pushed the lead to 70-29 with 5:30 remaining in the fourth quarter when Aiden Burnmeister buried the team’s 13th three of the contest.

Sebastian Piszczatowski scored six of his team-high 10 points during a 1:50 span in the third quarter for the Bears, with the last basket cutting the deficit to 54-24 with 3:50 left in the period.

“I think what we’re seeing at times is, you’re just seeing almost a lack of varsity experience,” said Hahn. “And it’s one of those things where you sit there and think, this is where they’re going to learn. We might take our lumps a little bit this year, and it might be difficult because there are going to be games like this.

“But in the end, these guys are getting all the experience. And game-by-game, they’re getting into it, and seeing it a little more.”

NEXT

… Pleasant Valley will host Bethlehem Catholic (9-2) on Friday.

CENTRAL CATHOLIC

Spugnardi 3-0-0-6, Green 4-0-0-9, Thomas 3-1-2-8, Csensits 0-0-0-0, Vaughan 6-0-0-18, Burnmeister 2-0-0-6, Filchner 1-0-0-3, Baloh 0-0-0-0, Khoury 0-0-0-0, Joyce 0-0-0-0, Kratzer 9-2-2-23, Faust 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 29-3-5-75.

PLEASANT VALLEY

Mitchell 3-1-2-7, Robinson 1-0-0-3, Smith 2-0-0-5, M. Kearns 0-1-2-1, Piszczatowski 5-0-0-10, Ammerman 0-0-0-0, Geraghty 0-1-2-1, Haines 0-0-0-0, Hampton 1-0-1-2, Rosario 1-1-4-4, Francis 1-5-7-7, Wynn 0-0-0-0, Arce 0-0-0-0, Rommel 0-0-0-0, K. Kearns 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 14-9-18-40.

Central Cath. 19 20 24 12 - 75

Pleasant Vy. 11 1 15 13 - 40

Three-pointers: ACC – Vaughan 6, Kratzer 3, Burnmeister 2, Filchner 1, Thomas 1, Csensits 1; PV – Robinson 1, Smith 1, Rosario 1.