2025 WPIAL Class 2A girls basketball championship breakdown: Neshannock vs. Aliquippa

By: Bill Hartlep
Friday, February 28, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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WPIAL Class 2A girls basketball championship

No. 1 Neshannock vs. No. 2 Aliquippa

11 a.m. Saturday, Petersen Events Center

On the air: Video livestream: NFHS Network

WPIAL titles: Neshannock 3 (2022, ‘21, ‘19); Aliquippa 4 (1990, ‘89, ‘88, ‘87)

Neshannock (23-2)

Coach: Luann Grybowski

Projected starting lineup

No., Name, Ht., Cl., Pos.

1, Jaidon Nogay, 5-9, Jr., G

2, Sophia Bonner, 5-4, So., G

5, Ainsley Allison, 5-10, So., F

10, Nina Medure, 5-5, Jr., G

32, Payton Newman, 5-8, So., G/F

How they got here: Neshannock defeated No. 16 Apollo-Ridge, 58-18, in the first round; No. 8 Laurel, 66-40, in the quarterfinals; and No. 4 South Side, 55-50, in the semifinals.

Notable: Neshannock is looking to regain the WPIAL championship after winning back-to-back in 2021 and ‘22. The Lancers lost in the WPIAL semifinals the past two seasons while playing in Class 3A. Neshannock and Aliquippa shared the Section 1 title with 9-1 records and split their season series. Aliquippa won 65-61 in overtime on Jan. 2. Neshannock won 69-39 at home on Jan. 27 and has won 14 straight games since. Payton Newman starred for the Lancers in the semifinals, scoring 27 points against South Side. She had 28 points in the quarterfinals and 16 in the first round. The Lancers average 62 ppg and allow 33.2.

Aliquippa (19-4)

Coach: Dwight Lindsey

Projected starting lineup

No., Name, Ht., Cl., Pos.

1, Carla Brown, 5-6, Sr., G

3, Yaree Carter, 5-9, Sr., F

10, Dai’Onna Washington, 5-5, Fr., G

12, Aunesty Johnson, 5-8, Sr., G/F

13, Denim Odom, 5-9, So., G/F

How they got here: Aliquippa beat Mo. 15 Carmichaels, 79-6, in the first round; No. 10 Rochester, 56-25, in the quarterfinals; and No. 3 Winchester Thurston, 50-43, in the semifinals.

Notable: Aliquippa is looking for its first WPIAL title since winning four straight from 1987-90. The Quips have won six straight games. They have been dominant in the postseason, outscoring their three opponents 185-74. In the semifinal win over Winchester Thurston, Denim Odom had 17 points, while Carla Brown and Dai’Onna Washington added 13 and 12, respectively. Brown poured in 33 in a first-round win. Aunesty Johnson led the team in the regular season at 17.1 ppg. The Quips average 57 points and allow just 32.9.

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

Tags: Aliquippa, Neshannock