Norwin, Greensburg Central Catholic girls ready to take run at repeat
By:
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 | 11:01 AM
Norwin and Greensburg Central Catholic won WPIAL girls basketball championships last year and are gearing up for a repeat with the WPIAL playoffs set to begin in about two weeks.
Plenty of work remains before the teams can think about another trip to Pitt’s Petersen Events Center, but at least now they know what it takes to get there — and win it all.
The ramp-up starts now.
Though there isn’t an exact blueprint for raising banners when factoring in health, matchups, execution and good old-fashioned luck — “There is no magic to it,” GCC coach Chris Skatell said — nothing beats readiness.
“You prepare the best you can,” Skatell said.
Norwin coach Brian Brozeski agrees. It’s not the seeding or the draw in the bracket that matters. It’s what a team does with them once the tournament tips off.
In the words of NBA great Allen Iverson, “We’re talking about practice.”
Remember, Norwin and Brozeski won back-to-back titles in 2015 and ’16.
“With every group, you have to change it up a little,” Brozeski said. “The thing last year was being prepared, and we were able to have intense practices. Maybe now, it’s more about the mental practices that might be more important. Being in the moment and present, getting the most out of every day is a key.”
Norwin won its third WPIAL title, the first in Class 6A, but had to replace a number of key seniors.
GCC captured WPIAL championship No. 6, in Class 2A. The team was bumped up to Class 3A because of the PIAA’s competitive balance formula, so a title defense is more of a back-to-back chase for the Centurions.
The goal comes with motivation that isn’t just based on uncontrollable state reclassification.
“We felt really comfortable at the beginning of the year,” GCC guard Erica Gribble said. “But (forward) Abby Dlugos went down (with a season-ending injury), and she made big contributions. Now, it’s more like this is for her. Let’s win another WPIAL for her.”
Jayla Peterson is another key to GCC’s success and will be counted on to complement Gribble. From there, a new nucleus that still is meshing with a young group of reserves will look to round into form for another run.
“You have to keep the intensity up at practice,” Skatell said. “We want to teach the new kids as we go because they haven’t been there. It’s a journey.”
No. 3-ranked Norwin (10-6, 6-1) has plenty of experienced girls back from the title run, including Kendall Berger, Averi Brozeski, Ava Christopher and Bella Furno.
Senior leadership was a banner trait for the Knights, and this group is looking to follow suit. It shined through Monday in a 56-47 upset at No. 1 Upper St. Clair, Norwin’s most impressive win this season.
“The seniors have their ear to the ground,” Brian Brozeski said. “They have been here the longest and see what is required of them.”
Norwin trailed USC for much of the game, falling behind by eight in the third quarter before pulling ahead to take sole possession of first place in Section 2-6A.
Norwin and Upper St. Clair split their two-game series.
“That was players being players right there,” Brozeski said. “They had every reason to think this was going to be a long night. I am really impressed with how mature the girls played.”
Norwin made 21 of 24 free throws in the upset, the Knights’ sixth win in seven games.
“We knew we had to win the foul line,” Brozeski said.
No. 3 GCC (13-3, 8-1) has rolled through Section 2-3A play, winning by an average of 38 points. Its only loss is to unbeaten and No. 1 Shady Side Academy (18-0).
A tough nonsection schedule has challenged the Centurions, but has the section slate been detrimental?
“I don’t think it has hurt us,” Gribble said. “The mindset is that you go out and play to win. You have to play competitively every game.”
GCC has played North Catholic, South Fayette and Peters Township, all No. 1-ranked teams at one time this season, and hopes to make up a game against Oakland Catholic.
As if its section schedule doesn’t challenge it enough, Norwin also has a ramped-up nonsection slate with games against Abington Heights, Penn-Trafford, State College, Kennedy Catholic and North Catholic.
“That’s why we play these teams,” Brozeski said.
Brozeski is a math teacher at Norwin and believes coaching can draw a direct correlation to the classroom.
Getting this group to gravitate toward the same pointed message, and lead newcomers along the way, is another key to a repeat.
“It’s the same as teaching class,” Brozeski said. “You might teach the same lesson to back-to-back classes. The first group might really love it, but the other might hate it.”
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Greensburg C.C., Norwin
More High School Basketball
• Trib 10: Power-ranked teams survive and advance … with 1 exception• What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Feb. 19, 2025: Basketball brackets reach quarterfinals
• High school roundup for Feb. 18, 2024: No. 15 Penn-Trafford stuns No. 2 Baldwin in 5A 1st round
• Chartiers Valley punishes Thomas Jefferson’s mistakes in Class 5A 1st-round win
• Latrobe cools off Kiski Area to end playoff drought