No. 2 Aliquippa snaps No. 1 Lincoln Park’s section winning streak

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, January 22, 2019 | 10:57 PM

Lincoln Park’s streak is over.

Aliquippa’s 77-74 WPIAL Section 1-3A win Tuesday night snapped the Leopards’ 83-game section winning streak, which is the second longest in WPIAL history behind Blackhawk’s 111 from 1990-99. It was Lincoln Park’s first section defeat since a 77-63 loss at Rochester on Feb. 11, 2011.

“For us to break that streak after losing to them at home is really a big win for us, especially being in the section,” Aliquippa’s William Gipson said.

In addition, it was the Leopards’ first loss on their home floor in Midland since a 57-53 setback to Pine-Richland on Dec. 19, 2012.

“Coming here and getting a win is huge,” Aliquippa’s M.J. Devonshire said.

After erasing an early 19-9 deficit, Lincoln Park (12-2, 7-1) seemed poised to extend its streak. The Leopards marched back to post a 40-38 lead at halftime on Casey Oliver’s late bucket.

Lincoln Park started pulling away in the third and built a 59-50 edge at the buzzer. The Leopards’ lead grew to 13 points, 65-52, with 6:25 to go. That’s when Aliquippa coach Dwight Hines called a timeout to spark his squad.

“I told them that they gotta have the heart and passion to stay together out there,” he said. “It’s a group effort; it’s not about individuals. All five people have to be on the ball and make stops. We made stops and got back into the game.”

Lincoln Park coach Mike Bariski was happy with the lead, but warned his team not to overlook the Quips (11-4, 7-1).

“They are a great team, and they have great athletes. They are never giving up. We were down 10 and didn’t give up. They were down 13, and they were not giving up,” he said. “When they called a timeout, we were celebrating a bit and I told the guys that it wasn’t over, and it wasn’t.”

Methodically, Aliquippa chipped away at the deficit. The Leopards regained a double-digit lead when Isaiah Smith’s bucket made it a 69-58 game with 4:41 to go, but the Quips surged to a 14-0 run. Larry Walker hit a 3-pointer, Dewayne Revis had a bucket and a trey and Gipson’s hoop trimmed the margin to 69-68 with 2:42 left. Devonshire’s steal and layup put Aliquippa ahead, and Gipson added another basket for a 72-69 edge with 1:39 to play.

“We started off the second half pretty lazy. Starting with myself, I played the second half pretty lazy,” Devonshire said. “We had to pick it up. We’ll see this team again, and we can’t start off slow like that.”

The Quips gained momentum from their boisterous crowd.

“Our fans got into a defense chant and that really brought us back into our football mode,” Gipson said. “Once that chant happens, we can’t lose a game. We have to dig in and play defense and score.”

Oliver’s free throw tied the game at 72, and the game appeared headed to overtime like the first meeting, a 73-69 Lincoln Park win at Aliquippa on Dec. 18. However, Zuriah Fisher’s bucket gave the Quips a 74-72 edge with 47 seconds left. After a blocked Leopards shot, Devonshire broke free for a wide-open layup and a 76-72 advantage with 28 seconds left.

A missed trey gave Aliquippa the ball again and Devonshire split two free throws for a 77-72 margin with 17.7 seconds to go. Oliver drove in for a quick hoop with 10.8 seconds remaining. After a pair of missed free throws, Keeno Holmes lofted an off-balance trey that missed its mark, and the Quips gathered the ball as the clock ran out.

“They are getting their (basketball) legs back. When we played them early on, pretty much, we didn’t have any legs. When that fourth quarter came around, we were a little sluggish,” Hines said. “Now that we have our legs, we’re still playing within the moment and not giving up. They have a lot of grit and life in them and they are not going to go away at all. We’re like a mosquito, too. Teams can keep swatting at us and swatting at us, but, eventually, we’ll get over that hump.”

Devonshire led the way with 20 points. Gipson had 16 for the Quips.

“I think this one gives our team confidence,” Gipson said. “I have a feeling we’re going to wipe out the section. That’s what we have to do.”

Oliver led Lincoln Park with 20 points. Tanner Mathos was an all-around force with 19 points and numerous blocks and rebounds.

“We learned a lot of things about ourselves tonight. I believe we learn more with adversity and losses than we do with a win,” Bariski said. “We’ve been cruising lately, fortunately for us. Adversity shows the true person and athlete. I am proud of my guys. They battled and acted right. Under two minutes, we didn’t take care of the basketball and you have to do that.”

Joe Sager is a freelance writer.

Tags: Aliquippa, Lincoln Park