WPIAL title worth the wait for Greensburg Central Catholic girls
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Friday, March 1, 2024 | 11:01 AM
Greensburg Central Catholic players celebrate next to head coach Chris Skatell late in the WPIAL Class 2A championship game against Serra Catholic on Thurday, Feb. 29, 2024, at Pitt.
Greensburg Central Catholic head coach Chris Skatell watches from the side line late in the WPIAL Class 2A championship game against Serra Catholic on Thurday, Feb. 29, 2024, at Pitt.
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Cara Dupilka scores against Serra Catholic during the WPIAL Class 2A championship game Thursday.
Greensburg Central Catholic head coach Chris Skatell presents Erica Gribble with her gold medal after defeating Serra Catholic in the WPIAL Class 2A championship game on Thurday, Feb. 29, 2024, at Pitt.
Greensburg Central Catholic players celebrate as time expires in the WPIAL Class 2A championship game against Serra Catholic on Thurday, Feb. 29, 2024, at Pitt.
WPIAL champion Greensburg Central Catholic had concerns it might not be sharp for the district final after sitting idle for four days following a semifinal win.
That’s not a very long time to wait by most playoff standards, but remember, GCC is a team that played back-to-back-to-back games in January.
The Centurions (20-6) don’t like to sit around.
“The wait from Saturday afternoon to Thursday is long,” coach Chris Skatell said. “You can only practice so much. … Everybody is a little bored and edgy. I was worried, frankly, how we were going to respond to being off.
“When I saw them take the floor and warm up I was like, ‘OK, we’re going to be fine.’ ”
Top-seeded GCC did look fine after a close first quarter Thursday night at Petersen Events Center. The team won its sixth WPIAL title — the first in 17 years — with a 62-41 victory over No. 3 Serra Catholic in the Class 2A final.
Sophomore Erica Gribble scored 14 of her game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter, senior Avery Davis scored 14 and sophomore Abby Dlugos grabbed 14 rebounds.
Knowing Serra Catholic played a big part in GCC’s win. It beat the Eagles, a fellow section team, three times this season.
GCC didn’t deviate far from its plan and relied on 3-point shooting and team defense, as usual.
It made 8 of 13 3-pointers for 61.5%. Gribble hit 5 of 7 from deep in her first finals appearance.
“There was a lot of familiarity with their offense,” Skatell said. “We put some new sets in. I’ve learned coaching, you have your most success running stuff the kids are most familiar with.”
GCC was upset in the quarterfinals by Burgettstown last season, so the title came with a touch of redemption.
“This is something I will never get to experience again,” said senior guard Mya Morgan, who had nine points, six rebounds and four assists in the final. “I dreamed of this since sophomore year.”
GCC’s title is the first by a Westmoreland girls team since Norwin in 2016.
GCC will sit again, this time for —wait for it — seven days as it prepares for the PIAA playoff opener.
The Centurions will take on District 6 fourth-place team Bellwood-Antis (15-10) on Friday night in WPIAL territory. The game could be at GCC.
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.
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