Trib HSSN boys basketball team of the week for March 23, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, March 23, 2025 | 9:10 PM

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Trib HSSN boys basketball team of the week – South Allegheny Gladiators

Coach – Tony DiCenzo (13th season)

Records – 10-0 and champions in Section 3-3A, 27-3 overall

#Earned – History was made three weeks ago when South Allegheny defeated Aliquippa in the WPIAL Class 3A boys basketball championship game 37-35 to capture the school’s first basketball crown. There was no WPIAL hangover for these first-time champs as the Gladiators began the PIAA postseason with a 38-point triumph over Cranberry, followed by an eight-point victory over District 6 runner-up Bishop Guilfoyle and a 14-point win over District 3 champion Camp Hill Trinity. That set up a District 7 finals rematch in the state semifinals Saturday between South Allegheny and Aliquippa. The Quips, playing without leading scorer Josh Pratt, led by eight after the first quarter, by five at halftime and by one point heading into the fourth quarter. But much like the first meeting, the Gladiators stormed back, held the Quips to only five points in the final eight minutes and won again, 36-31.

Scoring stars – The dynamic duo of senior guard Cam Epps and junior guard Drew Cook continued to lead the way on the score sheet for South Allegheny in the first two rounds on the Road to Hershey. Cook scored 22 against Cranberry and Epps dropped 16 in the win over Bishop Guilfoyle. However, others started to make their presence known on offense for SA in the quarterfinals when junior forward Jake Uher scored 17 points and senior forward Josh Jackowski added 15 points in the win over Camp Hill Trinity. In the Final Four defensive struggle against Aliquippa, Epps scored a game-high 16 points while Jackowski chipped in 10, including the bucket that put the Gladiators up for good and clinched the first trip to the state championship game in South Allegheny history.

Last year – A year ago with a young team relying heavily on a strong junior class, South Allegheny was playing up in class in 4A. The Gladiators were in the hunt for a section title for a while before Montour pulled away to finish first, Avonworth was second and SA was third, one game out of second and three games in back of first. The Gladiators eliminated Belle Vernon in the 4A first round 71-62, before falling to Hampton in the quarterfinals. After going 1-1 in the district consolation round with a win over Montour and a loss to North Catholic, South Allegheny earned a spot in the PIAA playoffs, but lost to Eastern York in the opening round, 56-55.

Remember when – The year prior to Tony DiCenzo taking over the program in 2013, South Allegheny finished 2-20. Before this decade, the Gladiators’ boys basketball program had never played a PIAA postseason game. Before the state playoffs were postponed because of the covid-19 outbreak in 2020, South Allegheny defeated Franklin in its first state playoff contest, 62-40, before losing in the second round to Richland, 68-58. The most successful state playoff run prior to this winter was in 2023 when the Gladiators eliminated Seneca (52-41), Shady Side Academy in double overtime (68-59) and Bishop Guilfoyle in the quarterfinals (53-41). But the season ended with a state semifinals loss to Aliquippa, 57-55. The school lost in the first round last year and, following four wins this season, the Gladiators are now 8-4 in PIAA games.

2025 Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Teams of the Week

Week 11 – Upper St. Clair Panthers

Week 10 – Latrobe Wildcats

Week 9 – Belle Vernon Leopards

Week 8 – Union Scotties

Week 7 – Knoch Knights

Week 6 – Woodland Hills Wolverines

Week 5 – Jeannette Jayhawks

Week 4 – Baldwin Highlanders

Week 3 – Elizabeth Forward Warriors

Week 2 – New Castle Red Hurricanes

Week 1 – Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles

Tags: South Allegheny