Aliquippa dominates Greensburg Central Catholic to win record-tying 14th WPIAL title
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Saturday, March 2, 2024 | 12:01 AM
Aliquippa’s Josh Pratt holds his gold medal after scoring 33 points against Greensburg Central Catholic in the WPIAL Class 2A championship game Saturday at Petersen Events Center.
The Aliquippa basketball team celebrates with the WPIAL championship trophy after defeating Greensburg Central Catholic in the WPIAL Class 2A championship game Saturday at Petersen Events Center.
Aliquippa’s Josh Pratt smiles after scoring against Greensburg Central Catholic during the WPIAL Class 2A championship game Saturday at Petersen Events Center.
Aliquippa’s Josh Pratt celebrates with Tikey Hayes and Brandon Banks as time expires against Greensburg Central Catholic in the WPIAL Class 2A championship game Saturday at Petersen Events Center.
Aliquippa’s Josh Pratt shoots a 3-pointer against Greensburg Central Catholic during the WPIAL Class 2A championship game on Saturday at Petersen Events Center.
Aliquippa’s Josh Pratt heads back upcourt after hitting a 3-pointer against Greensburg Central Catholic during the WPIAL Class 2A championship game Saturday at Petersen Events Center.
Aliquippa’s Josh Pratt and Marques Council Jr. celebrate after defeating Greensburg Central Catholic in the WPIAL Class 2A championship game on Saturday at Petersen Events Center.
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Tyree Turner scores against Aliquippa during the WPIAL Class 2A championship game on Saturday at Petersen Events Center.
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Franco Alvarez blocks a shot by Aliquippa’s Josh Pratt during the WPIAL Class 2A championship game on Saturday at Petersen Events Center.
Greensburg Central Catholic head coach Christian Hyland gives out the runners-up medals after the WPIAL Class 2A championship game against Aliquippa on Saturday, Mar. 2, 2024, at Petersen Events Center.
The term competitive balance has grown attached to Aliquippa in football.
There wasn’t much of it in the WPIAL Class 2A basketball championship either.
The top-seeded Quips rode scorching-hot shooting and a career day from sophomore Josh Pratt to a one-sided title repeat Saturday afternoon, brushing aside No. 2 Greensburg Central Catholic, 69-32, at Petersen Events Center.
Pratt made a finals-record 7 of 9 3-pointers and scored 33 points, and the Quips (21-5) shot 56.5% from the field, including 12 of 15 on 3s.
“I told coach (Nick Lackovich) I was going to have a big game,” Pratt said. “I was locked in. I made some early shots, and it started clicking.”
The title is the 14th for the Quips, which ties New Castle for the most in WPIAL history. The Quips also won football and basketball titles in the same school year for the second straight time.
“We have a proud tradition in our program,” Lackovich said. “It means everything to us.”
Greensburg Central Catholic (23-3) will have to wait to win its first WPIAL basketball title. The Centurions had won 14 in a row, but they spent the day trying to dig out from a deep hole.
“It was a rocky start, and (Aliquippa) shot the ball extremely well,” GCC coach Christian Hyland said. “Pratt had a special night. When someone is on fire like that, they’re tough to stop.”
Aliquippa came out firing and took leads of 16-3 after the first quarter and 32-12 at the half, and the Quips never loosened their grip.
“We came out cold,” GCC senior Tyree Turner said. “(Aliquippa) brings some experience here. Sometimes games like this just happen.”
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All Quips in the 2A Boys Championship today and a WPIAL boys hoops-record tying 14th title@ASDQuips | #HSSN pic.twitter.com/QzonodmCwH
— TribLive HSSN (@TribLiveHSSN) March 2, 2024
Turner led GCC with 16 points. The Centurions shot 35.3% and made only one 3-pointer.
The mercy rule took effect in the third when the Quips stretched it to 46-19.
The Quips were 6 of 10 from the field in the first quarter and made 10 of 14 in the third.
Senior Quentin Goode added 11 points and five assists for the Quips. Pratt made 13 of 20 shots.
Aliquippa beat GCC in the semifinals last year 61-36. GCC has finished second twice in the last four seasons.
“We played them last year, and we watched a lot of film on (GCC),” Lackovich said. “Turner is a big, strong kid. I don’t know if (Franco) Alvarez has seen the type of physicality our kids bring.”
The 6-foot-5 Alvarez was held to six points and seven rebounds.
“We said the first four minutes were a big key,” Hyland said. “It just got away from us.”
Pratt said the game plan hinged on containing Turner and Alvarez.
“Never let them get to their spots,” Pratt said. “We tried to take No. 5 (Turner) out of the game.”
The Quips had only five turnovers but forced 16.
Senior Cam Lindsey, a Pitt football commit, was impressed with Pratt.
“I’ve never seen you shoot it like that,” Lindsey said in a postgame news conference. “We ran out and kept our foot on the gas. Life is good.”
Lindsey pointed out he is 3-0 in title games at Acrisure Stadium and is now 2-0 at the “Pete.”
GCC was trying to become the first boys basketball team from Westmoreland County to win a WPIAL title since Monessen in 2017. Franklin Regional and Burrell lost WPIAL boys finals Friday night.
The county hasn’t had a boys and girls team win titles in the same season since 2015 (Monessen boys, GCC girls).
Aliquippa will host Otto-Eldred (25-2) next Saturday in the first round of the PIAA tournament.
GCC will host Windber (15-9) the same day.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Aliquippa, Greensburg C.C.
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