If you spend any time in Pocono Summit during the winter, you know the vibe. The air is biting, the parking lot at the high school is usually a mess of slush, and the gym is absolutely electric. Pocono Mountain West basketball isn't just a high school program; it's basically a local institution that has spent the last two decades refusing to be an easy out for anyone in Pennsylvania.
Honestly, it’s kinda wild when you look at the consistency. While other teams go through these massive five-year rebuilding cycles where they barely win five games, the Panthers just seem to reload. You’ve got a coaching tree that basically defines the region’s hoops history, a defensive identity that makes opposing point guards want to quit, and a fan base that actually travels.
The Rich Williams Era and the Legacy of "Coach P"
You can't talk about the current state of the program without acknowledging where it came from. For years, Brad Pensyl—affectionately known as "Coach P"—was the face of the Panthers. He built a culture of toughness that didn't care about flashy dunks or Instagram highlights. It was about winning the turnover battle and hitting your free throws.
When Rich Williams took over in the 2017-18 season, some people wondered if the "West" magic would fade. Spoiler: it didn't. Williams wasn't some outsider; he was a Brooklyn native who played under Pensyl back in 1995 at the original Pocono Mountain High. He still holds the school record for career assists (303).
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Basically, the DNA stayed the same.
Since taking the reins, Williams has crossed the 100-win milestone and kept the Panthers at the top of the EPC (Eastern Pennsylvania Conference) North. Just last season, in 2023-24, the team put up a massive 22-5 record. They didn't just win; they dominated long stretches of the schedule.
Why the 2025-26 Season Feels Different
Right now, as we sit in early 2026, the Panthers are once again a problem for the rest of District 11. They opened the season with a head-turning 8-1 record, though they recently took a narrow 41-39 loss to Nazareth Area on January 15. That’s high school hoops for you—one cold shooting night can ruin a perfect run.
But look at the wins they’ve stacked. A 70-38 blowout against Bethlehem Catholic. A gritty 59-53 win over Abington Heights. This team has balance. They currently sit at #2 in the District 11 Big School rankings, only trailing Allentown Central Catholic.
The Players Who Make the Engine Run
Every great PM West team has "that guy." In the past, it was Christian Fermin, the 6'10" force who went on to play at VCU. This year, the roster is a mix of veteran leadership and some serious underclassman spark.
Adrian Brito, a 6'6" senior forward, has been the anchor in the paint. He’s got the size to frustrate shooters but enough mobility to run the floor. Then you have the backcourt. Jonathan Mateo and Eryan Silva, both seniors, provide that steady-handed leadership you need when you're playing in a hostile gym in Allentown or Bethlehem.
Kyon Coles is the name everyone is whispering about for the future. As a junior point guard standing 6'3", he’s got the frame and the vision that college scouts drool over. It's not just about his scoring; it's the way he facilitates. He plays with a level of "calm" that you usually don't see until the college level.
- Adrian Brito (Sr, 6'6"): The defensive wall.
- Kyon Coles (Jr, 6'3"): The floor general.
- Jonathan Mateo (Sr, 5'10"): The high-IQ playmaker.
It’s Not Just a Boys Club: Lady Panthers Hoops
While the boys' team gets a lot of the local headlines, the Pocono Mountain West girls' basketball program has its own storied history. Remember Jacqueline Benitez? She wasn't just a standout at West; she went on to be a 2020 Olympian and a star at James Madison. That’s the kind of ceiling this program has.
Currently, the girls' side is focused on rebuilding that elite status under the guidance of the coaching staff, including names like Stacy Perryman and Jim Dempsey. They play in the same grueling EPC schedule, which is basically a gauntlet of the best talent in Eastern PA.
The rivalry with Pocono Mountain East is where things get really spicy. It doesn't matter if one team is 10-0 and the other is 0-10; when the "Old School" and "West" meet, the records go out the window. It’s loud, it’s physical, and it usually ends with someone diving into the bleachers for a loose ball.
The "West" Way: Why They Win
So, what’s the actual secret sauce? Honestly, it’s player development.
The coaching staff, from the varsity level down to the 7th-grade coaches like Chadrick Zamor and Jerusalem Strickland, stays connected. Strickland himself is a 2006 grad of the district and a former four-year starter. When your middle school coaches were legends on the same court twenty years ago, the kids tend to listen.
They also play a schedule that would break most teams. They don't hide from the big schools. They go out and find the best competition in the Lehigh Valley because they know it’s the only way to get ready for the PIAA state tournament.
How to Follow the Panthers This Season
If you're looking to catch a game, you need to be proactive. The EPC Mountain Division standings change almost nightly.
- Check the MaxPreps Rankings: They update the PIAA computer rankings frequently. Currently, West is hovering around the top 40-50 in the entire state of Pennsylvania (Class 6A).
- Home Game Atmosphere: Try to get to the gym at least 20 minutes before tip-off for big games against rivals like Stroudsburg or Pleasant Valley. It fills up fast.
- District 11 Playoffs: The real season starts in February. West has a habit of making deep runs into the "Sweet 16" of the state tourney, so keep your schedule clear for those Tuesday/Friday night elimination games.
Pocono Mountain West basketball has proven that it isn't a flash in the pan. It's a program built on the idea that hard work and a nasty defense can beat raw talent any day of the week. Whether you're a scout looking for the next big recruit or just a local fan who loves a good underdog story, the Panthers are always worth the price of admission.
To stay truly updated, follow the school's athletic department site or the "High School On SI" stats pages, as they track every steal and assist in real-time. The road to the Giant Center in Hershey always seems to have a stop in Pocono Summit, and this year looks no different.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Verify the Schedule: Check the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference (EPC) official calendar for the next home game against a top-tier opponent like Parkland or Liberty.
- Support the Youth: Look into the PMWYBA Select or the West Camp Youth Basketball League if you have younger athletes looking to enter the "West" pipeline.
- Watch the Standings: Monitor the District 11 Class 6A power rankings, as these will determine home-court advantage for the upcoming February playoffs.