L-R (Jacob Mealey, Nolan Plesnarski, Brandon Adams, Shane Fessler, Shazier Bethea)
Minersville has a new coach due to Dave Mullaney resigning after three seasons at the helm of the program. Last season, the Miners went 22-6 on the year, finishing as Schuylkill League and District 11 Class 3A runner up, and falling in the opening round of states to Warrior Run by one point.
Former Northern Lebanon head coach, Chris George, was hired during the offseason to be Mullaney’s successor. For the Schuylkill League Media Day, the first year coach brought Seniors Jacob Mealey, Nolan Plesnarski, Brandon Adams, Shane Fessler, and Shazier Bethea with him.
New look on the floor and bench this season
Along with a new coaching staff, the Battlin’ Miners lost four starters from last season. Those players were Logan Hutsko, Bradley Kostishak, AJ Halford, and Dante Carr. Some good news is that Bethea, the 2025 Schuylkill League Division 1 MVP, returns for George’s first season. The Division 1, 6th Man of the Year from last year, junior Jordan Bowers, also returns. Another junior, Chase Zimerofsky, comes back bringing solid varsity experience.
Plesnarski and senior Ty Atkinson were on a basketball hiatus, but will make a return this season. Mealey, Fessler, Adams, and junior Camden Rogers were on the varsity bench last season, but now they will be getting solid minutes on the court. Robert McGrath, Luke Toth, and Adrian Pepin are sophomores that will be in the varsity mix.
With everything Coach George said about his team, he hopes that the deep roster will create a high-tempo team and the chance to play everyone will be taken advantage of.
The Miners travel to Lebanon Valley College on December 30th
During Christmas break, the Miners will travel to Sorrentino Gym, the home of the Lebanon Valley Flying Dutchman. They will face the Pine Grove Area Cardinals under first year head coach John Rizzo. Both George and Rizzo are LVC alumni, and they (Lebanon Valley) wanted some high school games in their gym.
The game will tip off at 5pm after a women’s and men’s doubleheader. With the way Minersville’s schedule was set up, they were not set to play over the break, unlike most teams in the area. George thinks that playing in front of the big crowds and on the big court will prepare them for deep playoff runs in leagues, districts, and maybe states.
“It should be a really cool event, and just getting our guys on the floor in that atmosphere is pretty neat,” added George.
Mealey’s sister, Minersville girl’s basketball head coach Emily Mealey, played college basketball there. He (Jacob Mealey) said the court in Annville and Martz Hall in Pottsville are similar.
“Getting the opportunity to play in a college anytime while you’re in high school is definitely a nice opportunity,” said Plesnarski.
New staff, same culture
George described the environment as a positive one. With a lot of the players knowing each other well outside of school and basketball helps. “These kids seem like a good group of kids rolling through Minersville right now,” according to George.
The players joke around and have a good time, but with their long lasting friendships, they are really good together. Coach George also said “We want to have a good team environment and a good experience for everyone, but obviously we’re here to win too, we’re here to compete for stuff.”
The team has the same principles, such as keeping defense first, said Adams. His goal is to get back to Schuylkill League and district title games, and that is what the team is focused on this year.
Fessler said that, “pushing each other everyday, keep working hard, and maybe run some defense moves this year,” is a part of the culture. He did not want to reveal too much to the public and added that we will have to wait until the season to see what the Battlin’ Miners will show.
