The North Catholic coaches are hoping that a deep bench translates into another deep postseason run.

Last season, the Trojans advanced to the WPIAL Class AA semifinals and the PIAA quarterfinals using an extremely limited bench. This season, North Catholic returns four starters, its top reserves from last season and a few new faces in the lineup.

After a breakout year as a freshman, point guard Martin Long returns to lead the team along with his older brother Matt, a senior, who moves to the shooting guard spot this year. Their cousin, Jesse Long, enters the starting lineup this year after being the sixth man last season. He can play as either a guard or forward.

Coach Dave Long's son, Joe Long, will start at forward with Henry Pwono, another senior returning starter, back at center.

The coaches expect the depth this year to come from a group of juniors including Christian Wolosik, Tyler Staniski and Cory Gribbins, who transferred in last year from Pine-Richland. Gribbins' younger brother, Brandt Gribbins, a freshman, also joins the team.

Senior guards Luke Walker and Jared Hill also give the coaching staff more options off the bench.

"Without a doubt one thing that we are going to gain is our bench factor," assistant coach Mike Fratto said.

"We have guys who can contribute off the bench. We are looking at nine or 10 guys now with freshmen coming in. With the extra depth we can push the ball a little bit more. Last season early on we just gave away a game where we ran out of gas."

The Trojans will need as much help as they can get this season. After going undefeated in Section 4-AA to win the title, North Catholic makes the move to Section 3-AA, home of some of the top AA teams in the WPIAL such as South Fayette, Seton-LaSalle and Brentwood.

"[The added bench strength] should help a lot," said Pwono. "We are going to be going all out for most of the game and when guys get tired, we can rely on [the reserves] to keep the game the way it was."

Last season, North Catholic got to see just what it is like to play the top teams in WPIAL Class AA. The Trojans, a Class A school in other sports such as football and girls' basketball, choose to play up a class. In the WPIAL semifinals, the Trojans were defeated by Beaver Falls and in the PIAA quarterfinals they fell to Jeannette, the eventual state champions.

In a starting lineup with three seniors and a junior, sophomore Martin Long fits right in. He started at quarterback as a freshman, too, and this year he helped lead the football team to the WPIAL quarterfinals.

"Martin is the kind of kid, based on his personality, whom kids rally around," coach Long said. "Age really has nothing to do with his relationship with his teammates. He is the kind of kid whom everybody enjoys his presence on and off the court. I am sure for him personally it will be a greater comfort zone this season."

All five starters on the basketball team played on the Trojans' football team and the coaching staff and players alike feel that momentum that began with the football season has carried over to the basketball court.

"Without a doubt it all started with football not this year but last year with those guys," Fratto said.

"I think the confidence builder was that football season and what we were able to do on the basketball court. Hopefully we are just getting started."

North Catholic gets the regular season started tomorrow at the Du-Bois Central Catholic Tournament. It will face St. Joseph in the first round. The Trojans begin play in their new section Dec. 12 against Brentwood.