Trib HSSN boys basketball teams of the week for March 24, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, March 24, 2024 | 7:46 PM

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Trib HSSN boys basketball teams of the week: Lincoln Park Leopards, Aliquippa Quips and Imani Christian Saints

Coaches: Mike Bariski, Lincoln Park (15th season); Nick Lachovich, Aliquippa (seventh season in second stint); Khayree Wilson, Imani Christian Academy (first season)

Records: Lincoln Park: 12-0 in Section 2-4A, 28-3 overall; Aliquippa: 10-0 in Section 1-2A, 26-5 overall; Imani Christian Academy: 10-0 in Section 3-A, 19-10 overall

#Earned: Lincoln Park began last week by defeating Hampton in a rematch of the WPIAL Class 4A championship game in the state semifinals, 74-53. The Leopards then successfully defended their PIAA Class 4A title with an 80-50 victory over Archbishop Carroll out of District 12. Aliquippa defeated a Fort Cherry team in the PIAA 2A semifinals, 65-53, after beating the Rangers in the district final four. The Quips captured their first PIAA boys basketball crown in eight years when they rolled past District 2 winner Holy Cross, 74-52. In the PIAA Class A semifinals, Imani Christian Academy led District 6 champion Bishop Carroll after one quarter, 29-7, before earning a return trip to Hershey with a 29-point victory, 98-69. In a state finals rematch, the Saints once again soundly defeated District 5 champion Berlin-Brothersvalley, 79-52, to repeat as state champs.

Scoring stars: In the 4A state semifinals last week, Lincoln Park senior Brandin Cummings scored 29 points and junior Meleek Thomas had 18 points in the win over Hampton. Three days later in Hershey, Cummings scored 37 points, Thomas had a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds and senior Mikey Crawford scored 15 points as Lincoln Park repeated in 4A with its fourth PIAA title. In Class 2A, Aliquippa senior Cameron Lindsey led the way with 19 points while senior Quentin Goode and sophomore Josh Pratt added 12 points each as the Quips beat Fort Cherry. At the Giant Center on Friday, Pratt dominated with 36 points and Lindsey added 10 points as Aliquippa captured its sixth boys basketball state championship. In Class A, Imani Christian senior Nate Brazil had a game for the ages in the semifinals, scoring his 1,000th point while finishing with 48 points total in the Saints’ rout of Bishop Carroll. In the title game, junior R.J. Sledge scored 22 points and Brazil added 18 points as Imani Christian Academy crushed Berlin-Brothersvalley for the second straight year in the state finals.

Last year: These three teams enjoyed immense success a year ago as well. Lincoln Park finished 30-1 overall in sweeping WPIAL and PIAA gold in Class 4A by beating North Catholic in the district finals by 10 points and Neumann-Goretti in the state title game by four points. Aliquippa won the WPIAL crown over Northgate by 12 points and reached the PIAA finals in Hershey, but fell in the 2A title game to Lancaster Mennonite, 60-44. Imani Christian Academy finished with a record of 24-6 after defeating Union in the WPIAL Class A championship and Berlin-Brothersvalley in the PIAA finals.

Remember when: This is only the fourth time WPIAL teams have won three PIAA boys basketball championships in the same year. The other years were in 1992 (Blackhawk, Carlynton and Duquesne); 1995 (Ringgold, Blackhawk, Shady Side Academy) and 20 years ago in 2004 (Penn Hills, Moon and Sto-Rox). These three teams have combined for 12 PIAA boys basketball championships after their successful state title runs in 2024. They are three of 20 schools in the WPIAL that have won multiple PIAA boys basketball crowns. Imani Christian Academy has won both of its state titles in the last two years. Lincoln Park has won two of its four state championships in the last two years. The Leopards’ other state titles came in 2014 and 2019. Aliquippa has now won the second most in district history with six, only one behind the seven Farrell won when it was part of District 7. The Quips’ first state title came 75 years ago in 1949. They also brought home state boys hoops gold in 1989, 1994, 1997 and 2016.

2024 Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Teams of the Week

Week 11 – Hampton Talbots

Week 10 – Fox Chapel Foxes

Week 9 – Upper St. Clair Panthers

Week 8 – Baldwin Highlanders

Week 7 – Woodland Hills Wolverines

Week 6 – Beaver Bobcats

Week 5 – Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils

Week 4 – South Allegheny Gladiators

Week 3 – Central Catholic Vikings

Week 2 – Gateway Gators

Week 1 – Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions

Tags: Aliquippa, Imani Christian, Lincoln Park