Brian Bethel wasn’t sure what to expect during first season as head coach of the Cornell boys varsity basketball team last year.
And despite the fact that the Raiders finished 2-8 in the WPIAL Class 1A Section 1 – tied for last place with Western Beaver – and 6-15 overall, he didn’t see it as a failure. That’s because he was able to convince a healthy number of players to come out for the team – in stark contrast to the previous couple of seasons under Bethel’s predecessor.
“It went better than I thought,” Bethel said, looking back on the 2023-24 season. “The previous coach only had about six kids the last couple years. So we made a change, and we were able to get a lot of kids out for basketball.”
Bethel was able to call on his connections with a lot of those students, as he’s been a coach in the Cornell district for about 10 years, and he wound up with about 15 players in the program last year. “I had a rapport with most of those kids since they were playing Pee Wee football and elementary school basketball,” he said. “I got them to come back out and play basketball.”
While Bethel’s first varsity team at Cornell relied on six seniors, this year’s team has only two. So this year’s edition will be a young team, although most of them saw playing time either at the varsity or junior varsity level a year ago. “They all got some kind of on-court experience,” he said.
That experience was enhanced somewhat by their participation in summer league action, and this was the first year the Raiders fielded a fall league team at the Rize sports complex in Leetsdale. Although most of Cornell’s varsity squad was busy playing football, several high school players gained valuable experience in the fall, as did some of Cornell’s middle school players.
The Raiders, who open their season at home Tuesday night against Environmental Charter, will be challenged in the height department this year, as most of their top players won’t crack the 6-foot barrier.
Santana Lee, a 5-8 senior guard, handles the ball, runs the floor well and serves as an “extension of the coach on the floor,” Bethel said. “He’s a pretty aggressive kid.”
Ashton Jones, a 5-10 senior forward, is an athletic player and a solid rebounder and defender. Brothers Eduardo and Alex Benitez will help put points on the board. Eduardo Benitez, a 5-10 sophomore guard, started some games as a freshman and figures to be one of Cornell’s top scorers. Alex Benitez, a 5-10 junior guard, is a solid shooter, Bethel said.
Julian Smith, a 6-2 junior forward, will play the post. Also contributing minutes will be a pair of sophomores – 5-9 Kenny Wade and 6-foot Devin Lamb.
Bethel said the Raiders’ size – or lack thereof – means they’ll emphasize their play on the defensive end and hope to get out and run. “We need to compete on the boards and play defense,” he said.
Originally, Bethel said, he was planning to rely on a pressing defense, but he’s had to adjust his sights a bit. “Our bench is not that strong, so we have to be smart with the guys we have and keep them rested,” he said. “It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m up for it.”
Cornell remains in Class 1A’s Section 1, but only the Raiders and Avella stayed there. The newcomers are Aquinas Academy, Beaver County Christian, Nazareth Prep and The Summit Academy.
Bethel said he’s looking forward to what the season brings – and he’s looking down the road as well. “We have a lot of help coming on the junior high level,” he said. “We have a lot of kids on those teams and a lot of height. We just have to stay patient and ride it out and wait until they get up here.”
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