The Moon Area boys' basketball team returns to Class AAA this season following a successful two-year run at the Quad-A level.

Tigers coach Jeff Ackermann welcomes the change.

"The best thing about it for us is the kids get to play against their natural rivals," Ackermann said. "From the time these kids are in the fifth grade until they graduate, they play West Allegheny, Montour, Blackhawk and Hopewell in all sports. Those are the rivalries.

"We did, over the past two years, create some nice rivalries within our basketball program. We had some good games with Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair, and some very heated games with Canon-McMillan, but I don't think the community had the same passion for those schools."

Ackermann's team did give the community plenty to cheer about during its two seasons in Class AAAA, winning 48 games and two Section 4-AAAA titles.

Last year, Moon finished 23-8 overall and 10-2 in section play. The Tigers fell to Central Catholic in the WPIAL championship game before losing to Norristown Area in the PIAA semifinals.

"The guys are used to winning," said Ackermann, who has led Moon to four section titles, three WPIAL Class AAA titles and one PIAA Class AAA championship in seven seasons at Moon.

Will that winning continue during the coming season? Ackermann would make no promises about the upcoming campaign, which starts tomorrow against Peters Township in the Moon tournament.

"You're never guaranteed to win," he said. "For starters, we're a new team. We lost three very good players from last season."

Topping the list of graduation losses is guard Brian Walsh.

"The best player I've ever coached," Ackermann said.

Walsh, who averaged 20 points and seven rebounds last season, now plays for Xavier University. The other graduation losses include Kier Jeter (12 points, five rebounds) and Anthony Valenzie.

"I need to see how the other guys steps into those roles," Ackermann said. "Will guys be willing to accept their 12 minutes a night? Ten minutes? Twenty minutes? Hopefully the guys aren't selfish or greedy and want to be a part of a winning team."

Moon returns two players who started each game last season and five others who saw significant playing time.

The returning starters are 6-foot-3 senior guard/forward Ryan Falbo, who is being recruited by William & Mary and Yale, and sophomore center/forward Aaron Johnson (seven points, five rebounds).

Ackermann said he will build his team around Johnson, who played center last season but will likely be moved to the power forward spot this year.

"Aaron is 6 feet 2, 180 pounds, and played the center position in Quad-A as a freshman," Ackermann said. "I know it was really hard for him, but he really got better as the season wore on."

Johnson scored a team-high 14 points in the WPIAL title game and 18 points in Moon's win over Canon-McMillan in the first round of the PIAA playoffs.

"He played like that every day in practice," Ackermann said. "We were waiting to get those kind of results in games."

Moon's other returning players include senior guards Jason Jacobs and Justin Jordan, junior center Dan Murray, sophomore center Kyle Henderson and sophomore guard Brett Hoffman.

The Tigers will compete in Section 4-AAA this season. The defending champion in the section is Chartiers Valley. Moon will play host to Chartiers Valley on Jan. 9 and travel to face the Colts on Feb. 3.

Both games promise to have special meaning for Ackermann, who is a technology education instructor at Chartiers Valley High School and was an assistant for one season under Colts coach Tim McConnell.

"I've not played [Chartiers Valley] since I've been at Moon," Ackermann said. "It's going to be a really hard game for me because I know the kids and have the kids in class. Tim is a coach I look up to. He taught me a lot.

"For me, those Chartiers Valley games will be the most interesting. I know the atmosphere will be amazing. It should be fun."