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La Roche Selected to Finish First in Coach's Preseason Poll

La Roche Selected to Finish First in Coach's Preseason Poll
Posted: Nov 03, 2021

Pittsburgh, PA - The men's basketball team has been named number one in the coach's preseason poll, released on Wednesday, by the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC). 

This is the second year in a row that the Redhawks have been the favorite to walk away with the conference title. La Roche is also their reigning champions of the AMCC title having walked away victorious after the championship game against Penn State-Behrend (62-61). 

 

During the 2019-20 season the team went 21-7 for their overall record and 19-1 in the AMCC Conference. The Redhawks also went undefeated at home during their last played season. 

 

The 2019-20 season was a hard fought season for the Redhawks. The team walked away with a .950% PCT, 80 points per game average, 46.5% in field goals, 35.8% in three point shots and 69.7% in free throws. The team also averaged 39 rebounds per game. 

 

Hermie Carmicheal will be entering his ninth season as head coach for the Redhawks. Carmichael has won AMCC Coach of the Year three times (2019, 2018, 2016), led the Redhawks to three straight AMCC Regular Season Championships (2018, 2019, 2020) & two AMCC Tournament Titles in 2018 and 2020 (clinching spots in the NCAA D-III Tournament those years).

 

The La Roche players to watch chosen by the poll are sophomore Joe Pipilo, and junior, Devon Darrell. 

 

Darrell (Lockport, NY/ D'Youville College) started 21 out of 22 games as a sophomore and lead the team in minutes played with an average of 33 minutes per game. Darrell averaged 13.2 points, five assists and two steals per game. He also connected on 94 free throws (over 4 free throws per game). 

 

Pipilo (Pittsburgh, PA/ Chartiers Valley HS) played in 21 games as a freshman, and was third on the team in made three point shots (31-91). His career high had him scoring 15 points at Hilbert (88-86). 

Both players are expected to excel this season in and out of conference play. 

 

The AMCC Champtionshiop for the conference title will take place February 26, 2021. The winner will earn the conference's bid to the NCAA Tournament.