Offseason changes include new coach, revamped roster for Greensburg Central Catholic boys

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 | 11:01 AM

A whiteboard in the boys basketball coach’s office at Greensburg Central Catholic was erased in the offseason. Old concepts, plays and names were wiped away and soon the squeak of markers could be heard writing new ones.

New coach Tim O’Rourke was doing the writing as he began to take in his new surroundings.

“Maybe it’s the best time to come in,” O’Rourke said. “There is a lot of change here.”

O’Rourke takes over a program in flux following an impressive postseason run that ended in the PIAA Class 2A semifinals.

GCC finished 26-4, rekindling a playoff run after losing in the WPIAL quarterfinals to Union, 44-42.

GCC knocked off rival and WPIAL champion Jeannette, 46-35, in the PIAA quarterfinals to reach the state final four where it lost to Sewickley Academy, 52-48.

It wasn’t long after the year-end banquet that five seniors graduated, sophomore guard A.J. Tarpley left for The Kiski School and sophomore guard David Wachinski transferred to Ringgold. Sophomore 6-foot-7 forward Brandon Martin had already departed the team and moved to The Phelps School.

Then, coach Christian Hyland and his staff departed, a fractured roster left for the next regime.

Hyland led the Centurions for six seasons and went 119-31 with six section titles and never missed the playoffs.

GCC made the WPIAL finals twice on his watch but could not break through and win the program’s first district title.

Enter O’Rourke, the father of one of last year’s standout guards, Brady O’Rourke, who is now playing at Saint Vincent.

A former GCC girls assistant and junior high boys and girls coach at the school, Tim O’Rourke is ready to take the reins.

He expected more than 20 players to show up at tryouts.

“I wanted to be a head coach here for a while now,” said O’Rourke, a Ringgold and Saint Vincent alum who also has served as an assistant with the Yough girls, Derry boys and Greensburg Salem girls. “I don’t feel the pressure coming in. I want our guys to improve every day and compete every night. I want to bring a toughness, but fun is not lost on me. When I coached the junior high kids, I would explain what I wanted us to do, but I never said anything about winning. That comes with taking care of the other things. I always liked to say game day is pay day.”

While he only had a few open gyms to base preseason expectations on, O’Rourke anticipated a core of returning players to include seniors James Botti (6-4), Brandon Plunko and Joe Foss and juniors Luke Semelka and J.T. Stawovy. Botti and Semelka are the most experienced of the group.

Senior Samir Crosby, a starter last year, decided not to play this season.

Several potential varsity players could be plucked from the lower classes, including a hopeful group of freshmen, but it is too early to tell whom and when.

The seasoned Crosby would have been a key player because of his physical play, hustle and winning mentality. Crosby is focusing on a college football career. He was mulling several Division I offers.

Without Crosby, O’Rourke said, “We’ll need more guys to step up every game.”

O’Rourke knows GCC is a perennial playoff team and wants to uphold a long-standing tradition. But he won’t put unfair pressure on his new-look group.

“The standard is set,” he said. “They know what the expectation is. But some years, you have to build up to that. I really have high hopes for our younger guys.”

O’Rourke said he wants to have intense practices where players are always doing something productive.

“I want to do a lot of situational things,” he said. “You’re down one with 30 seconds left. I want them to be ready when a situation comes up. One of the big things I was looking forward to when I got the job was the practices.”

O’Rourke’s three-man staff will include assistants Greg Riley and Dom Rullo.

GCC will open the season Dec. 5 against Indiana at the Hempfield tip-off tournament.

The Centurions have won 31 straight games at home.

Greensburg Central Catholic boys at a glance

Coach: Tim O’Rourke

Last year’s record: 26-4 (14-0 Section 1-2A)

Returning starters: None

Players to watch: James Botti (Sr., F), Joe Foss (Sr., G), Brandon Plunko (Sr., G/F), Luke Semelka (Jr., G), JT Stawovy (Jr., G)

SCHEDULE

12.5, Indiana^, 6:15 p.m.

12.6, Greensburg Salem^, 1 p.m.

12.10, Obama Academy, 6:30 p.m.

12.12, at Frazier*, 7:30 p.m.

12.16, Clairton*, 7:30 p.m

12.19, at California*, 7:30 p.m.

12.20, Belle Vernon#, noon

12.23, Bentworth*, 7:30 p.m.

12.29, TBA+

12.30, TBA+

1.6, at Riverview*, 7:30 p.m

1.9, Jeannette*, 7:30 p.m.

1.10, at Aquinas Academy, 12:30 p.m.

1.13, at Springdale*, 7:30 p.m.

1.16, Frazier*, 7:30 p.m.

1.20, at Clairton*, 7:30 p.m.

1.23, California*, 7:30 p.m.

1.27, at Bentworth*, 7:30 p.m.

1.30, Riverview*, 7:30 p.m.

1.31, Ligonier Valley%, 6 p.m.

2.3, at Jeannette*, 7:30 p.m.

2.6, Springdale*, 7:30 p.m.

*Section game

^Hempfield tip-off tournament

#WCCA Showcase

+Greensburg Salem tournament

%Saint Vincent Shootout

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.