Aliquippa players, coach suspended for in-game altercation ahead of section game vs. Freedom

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Friday, January 24, 2025 | 10:23 AM


“A travesty of justice” was how Aliquippa boys basketball coach Nick Lackovich described the situation his short-handed team will face Friday night.

As a result of last weekend’s on-court altercation with Imani Christian, Aliquippa must play a section game with only five players and without Lackovich, who was suspended one game by the PIAA. The teams’ nonsection contest last Saturday at Allderdice was called off with 4 minutes, 23 seconds remaining in the second quarter after spectators ran onto the court.

Lackovich said an Aliquippa appeal of the suspensions was denied Thursday by the PIAA.

PIAA associate executive director Pat Gebhart said all players who left the bench area for either team must sit out one game. An Aliquippa player involved in the altercation received a two-game suspension and Lackovich was suspended one game “for his actions after he left the bench,” Gebhart said in an email.

Aliquippa (10-3, 7-0) hosts Freedom (1-12, 1-5) in a Section 1-3A game Friday. The Quips haven’t played since Saturday’s fight-shortened contest with Imani Christian.

Imani Christian played Sunday in York against St. Benedict’s Prep of New Jersey. The Saints used only six players in the loss, according to MaxPreps statistics. Imani coach Khayree Wilson did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Connellsville (3-13, 0-9) hosts Imani Christian (8-6, 6-2) for a Section 2-6A game Friday night.

Under NFHS rules, any player engaged in fighting is assessed a flagrant foul and disqualified from the game. A substitute leaving the bench during a fight is assessed a flagrant technical foul and disqualified.

Such ejections earn an automatic one-game suspension under PIAA rules. The PIAA can impose a supplemental two-game suspension for those involved in egregious acts.

Lackovich said he was accused of throwing a punch in the chaos, an allegation he strongly denied. He also said he didn’t believe players on Aliquippa’s bench deserved a one-game suspension for leaving their seats since they never crossed halfcourt or tried to join the fight.

A report detailing the altercation was submitted by game officials to the PIAA, a standard practice when a player or coach is ejected. The report in part said: “The Aliquippa coach who unfortunately came off the bench to help clear this mess up was punched by a spectator and then retaliated and threw a punch back to this individual.”

Lackovich said he was hit but didn’t retaliate.

“It was a very poor assessment of what had happened,” he said. “Everybody involved saw that I didn’t throw a punch. … I’m not looking to fight with anybody.”

The officials’ report said both benches cleared.

Video showed the incident started when an Imani Christian player under the basket was seemingly shoved to the floor. That sparked a skirmish among players that escalated when spectators flooded onto the court.

Lackovich was seen on video advancing toward the scrum to retrieve his players. Reserves on Imani Christian’s bench were seen leaving their seats. Aliquippa’s bench at the other end wasn’t in view of the camera.

Aliquippa superintendent Phillip Woods has said he and others kept their players near the bench.

“We told (the PIAA) in our appeal that we commended these kids for not going and getting involved,” Lackovich said.

Lackovich said assistant Mrryce Smith will coach the Quips against Freedom in his absence. Aliquippa is the top-ranked team in WPIAL Class 3A after winning WPIAL and PIAA titles in 2A last season.

“Fortunately, four of (the available players) are starters and we have a sophomore who’ll play as the fifth guy,” Lackovich said. “I won’t be there, obviously. I told my assistants, ‘Use your timeouts judiciously. Play a little more zone.’ But it’s business as usual.”

The WPIAL requested reports from both Aliquippa and Imani Christian administrators detailing the altercation, WPIAL executive director Scott Seltzer said Tuesday. He said the WPIAL would look into the situation.

The incident occurred one day after the WPIAL put the Imani Christian boys basketball program on probation for an eligibility issue involving a transfer. Seltzer said Tuesday it was too soon to say if the altercation might impact Imani Christian’s probation.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

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