SA’s confidence high for rematch with Quips

The Gladiators will face off against Aliquippa today for the right to play for the state championship.

It’s Round 2 between WPIAL champion South Allegheny and Aliquippa. While the second meeting between the two teams isn’t for a championship, the stakes are still high for both teams.

The Gladiators (26-3) and Quips (23-5) will duel at high noon at Canon-McMillan High School looking to punch their ticket to Chocolate Town to play for the PIAA Class 3A championship.

The pair met March 1 in the WPIAL title game, where the Gladiators came away with a 37-35 win.

“I don’t think this game will be as low scoring as the last time we played. We don’t want to play the game in the 30s, because that means we’re not hitting shots,” South Allegheny coach Tony DiCenzo said. “I don’t think we’ll have a high-scoring one, though. I’d be shocked if either team hits their average.”

Both teams average just under 70 points per game.

The Gladiators reached the semifinals with wins over Cranberry (75-37), Bishop Guilfoyle (55-47) and District 3’s Trinity (76-62).

The Quips have cruised through the state playoffs with wins over Westmont Hilltop (73-40); Mercer (6437) and Forest Hills (73-34).

“Our last two games against Bishop and Trinity really helped get us prepared for this one,” DiCenzo said. “I hope it pays dividend for us. We were really tested in those games. I think (Aliquippa) has definitely had an easier path to this point.”

The Gladiators are led by Drew Cook and his 23 points per game. Senior Cam Epps is right behind him with 19 points per game.

While those two continue to lead their team, it’s been the supporting cast of Josh Jackowski (13 ppg), Jake Uher (5 ppg) and Camden Lewis (5 ppg), that have been instrumental in the team’s state playoff run.

Jackowski (7.5) and Lewis (8) are averaging over 15 rebounds per game with Uher contributing five.

“Those guys have been a big part of our success,” Di-Cenzo said. “Jake has really come into his own and had a great game against Trinity.”

The Quips are led by Josh Pratt, who’s averaging 22.7 ppg. He scored 27 in Aliquippa’s win over Forest Hills in the quarterfinals.

Qa’Lil Goode added 25 in the win.

“I think the biggest advantage, I guess for both teams, is there’s familiarity there,” DiCenzo said. “We know we have to control their two big scorers. I think our guys know and understand what it’s going to take to beat them.”

Neither team shot well in the WPIAL title game, but DiCenzo feels his team is playing their basketball now.

“We talk about it all the time. When you’re at this point in the season, that’s what you want,” DiCenzo said. “The guys weren’t connecting that day. Against Trinity, I think we unlocked ourselves out of that. We hit seven 3-pointers in the first quarter. I think the arena and the magnitude of the situation got the best of us.

“Not that there aren’t stakes in this game, but I think being back in a high school gym will help us with that. I don’t expect us to shoot that poorly.”

DiCenzo said the key for his team will be to control the pace of the game.

“They’re going to do what they do. They feast on bad or average guard play and get transition baskets,” DiCenzo said. “We have good guards that have helped carry us all season. We just have to limit our live-ball turnovers.”

DiCenzo is confident in his team’s ability to play whatever type of game develops with the Quips. Low-scoring, high-scoring, it doesn’t matter.

In the end, the confidence needs to remain high and the Gladiators have that, especially with that WPIAL trophy in hand.

“We won that game for a reason,” DiCenzo said. “We’re a good team. I think there’s a chance they were a little over-confident when they played us the first time.

“We have an understanding of what to expect and it gives us the knowledge we need. The pressure is still there. We’ll always have that WPIAL title, but this is the next challenge. We want to continue our season and move forward to Hershey. These guys are ready.”