Role players making a difference in Greensburg Central Catholic’s hot start

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, December 28, 2023 | 3:28 PM

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If Greensburg Central Catholic is going to live up to its expectations and make another run in the WPIAL and PIAA Class 2A boys basketball playoffs, the steady contributions of role players could be what makes the difference.

So far, the rotation has been much more than the outstanding senior tandem of point guard Tyree Turner (22 ppg) and forward Franco Alvarez (15 ppg). Defenses have much more to worry about now.

“You don’t who it’s going to be each night,” GCC coach Christian Hyland said. “Each night, someone new has an impact for us.”

Pick a junior, any junior.

Sometimes, it is guard Braden Riley. Others, it’s guards Liam Gallagher or Sean Walker, swingman Brady O’Rourke or forward Ty Rozier. Or senior forward Anthony Semelka.

“Franco and Tyree are our prime scorers,” Riley said. “When we started out, we were starting games and just (focusing) on defense. Now, we’re looking to score more.

“Any time you’re on the court (at GCC), you play your heart out. We go about seven or eight deep, and we can all go out and score when needed.”

GCC’s other starters and key reserves don’t have to be stars; they have to star in their roles.

They helped the team take a seven-game winning streak into the holiday break, a 9-1 record that includes wins over 6A Hempfield, 5A Penn-Trafford, District 6 power Berlin Brothersvalley, 3A Yough and section opponent Serra Catholic.

GCC was set to play its second game in the Paul Sapotichne Holiday Classic Thursday at Greensburg Salem.

The opener was a 61-37 victory over Yough, which saw its leading scorer, Terek Crosby, manage only 11 points (he averages 32) against a triangle-and-2 defense.

Turner, who has topped the 30-point mark twice this year and eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career, missed two games early in the season with an ankle injury, forcing others to fill in and pick up the slack.

“Those games helped us,” Riley said. “That helped us come out of our shells.”

Said Hyland: “They learned to play in our system. They weren’t looking over their shoulder for Tyree.”

Turner has noticed the increased productivity around him — from Riley’s ball movement, to Gallagher’s defense, to O’Rourke’s drives and Semelka’s end-to-end help.

GCC likes to play at a fast pace and push the tempo, creating lanes for Turner and finishes for Alvarez. When those lanes aren’t there and the ball swings around in the halfcourt, GCC has options.

“Everybody has stepped up,” Turner said. “Their confidence is up, and you can tell. We trust those guys to make plays.”

Gallagher, Riley and O’Rourke are starters, while the sixth man can change from game to game.

Rozier, who rolled his ankle early in the second practice, adds depth to the frontcourt.

“He is getting his timing back,” Hyland said. “He is a worker, and we like his energy.”

GCC also has worked to replace sophomore Samir Crosby, a key guard last season who decided not to play basketball so he can focus on training for football.

Gallagher (9.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists), Riley (5.8/3.5/3.3) and Walker (4.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg) give the Centurions shooting threats.

Semelka, who did not play last season, is averaging 6.8 points and 3.4 rebounds.

GCC’s only loss was 68-51 against Franklin Regional in the Hempfield tip-off tournament.

The Centurions, who are 2-0 in Section 3-2A, play at Leechburg on Wednesday and at Jeannette on Jan. 5.

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.