So where does the Weatherly boys’ basketball team pick up the pieces?

That’s the underlying question that may not be answered early on during this 2021-2022 season. The graduation losses hit the Wreckers hard. When a team loses one of the all-time greats in Scotty Zoscin, solid veterans in Antonio Colecio Luke Derr, Ethan Broskoskie, Trevor Lowman, Jacob Solonoski and Ben Ramirez, and at one of the smallest school districts in the state, it is without question a tough way to make it work on the court.

But the Wreckers have a proud tradition. Just when you least expect them to go by the wayside, they find a way to spring a trap. And don’t think for one second this team will be a pushover, especially when you make a trip to this area, on the fringe of the Poconos.

Yet, there will be a big void to fill. Getting right to the point, the departure of Zoscin, an All-State player, and Colecio, who combined for 34.5 points per game, is a big void to make up.

“They were outstanding and losing that type of offense will take a toll on any team,” said head coach Corey Gerhart.

Zoscin wrote his name into the record books as the third leading scorer in boys’ basketball for Weatherly with 1,658 points and is now in college as a cross country runner at East Stroudsburg University.

Gerhart said the cross country team has helped his program and the overflow into the basketball season is a big help.

“Our cross country program has been very successful the last few seasons,” Gerhart said. “That has produced a winning attitude for us and hopefully we can transition that into our program.”

Indeed, there are several runners on the court this winter, again.

Frank Willis, Ricky Ray, Tim Maguschak and Mike Berger are all seniors. Ray is the tallest at 6-4, while Willis, who can interchange between guard and forward is 6-2. Maguschak 5-10 and Berger 5-8 giving the Wreckers some height to play with the taller teams.

“That has helped us with a strong team unity,” Gerhart pointed out. “They’re a tight group kids, they’re gelling together. But we have some tough teams to face. We open with North Schuylkill, then play Panther Valley, Nativity and Shenandoah Valley. Those are all strong teams.”

How do the Wreckers combat that type of talent?

“We do hustle, we need to play very good defense in order to be competitive every night.” Gerhart continued. “We do lack height, but our hustle makes up for some of that.”

Weatherly is going to have to get into the open floor and run, in order to put points on the board. Gerhart says matching team’s basket for basket is a tough way to make a run at the better teams in Division III of the Schuylkill League, which houses favorite Nativity, rival Marian, Mahanoy Area and Shenandoah Valley. Those four teams are returning with veterans.

While the team is heavy in senior starters, Weatherly will hope to count on five juniors who will get their share of playing time. There’s 5-10 Ian McLaurin, Jaydan Ubanks and Jordan Mitchell, along with 6-2 Owen Bercofskie and 5-6 Jonathan Hoffman.

“Our goal is to play .500 and make the playoffs,” Gerhart said.

But how good can this edition be?

“I’ll tell you at the end of the season,” said Gerhart.