WPIAL Class 3A Girls Basketball Championship

No. 2 Greensburg Central Catholic (20-5, 12-2 Class 3A Section 2) vs No. 1 Shady Side Academy (24-0, 14-0 Class 3A Section 2) – Thursday 7 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center

Pregame at 6:50 p.m. on WSN Audio - LISTEN BROADCAST

WSN Broadcasters: Sean Meyers & Greg Bisignani

About the Centurions: The Centurions earned their spot in the WPIAL title game courtesy of a 41-18 victory against third-seeded Our Lady of the Sacred Heart on Saturday at Peters Township High School. In that victory, GCC was led by Erica Gribble, who scored a game-high 16 points. Gribble, a junior who is committed to Richmond, averages 22.3 points per contest, and has surpassed 1,500 points in her decorated career with the Centurions. Moreover, junior Jayla Peterson scored 10 points against the Chargers, and she ranks behind only Gribble with a season average of 14.3 points. Sophomore Avery Jones notched a career-high 14 points in the semifinals triumph. GCC has played the majority of the campaign without junior forward Abby Dlugos, who suffered a torn ACL. Earlier in the postseason, the Centurions ousted Brownsville Area 66-31 in the first round, and followed with a 56-47 victory against Quaker Valley in the quarterfinals. In the two previous meetings this year, GCC fell to Shady Side Academy 63-33 in Fox Chapel, and 59-48 on its home floor. In addition to two section losses against Shady Side Academy, Greensburg Central Catholic’s three setbacks were to other WPIAL finalists – South Fayette and Peters Township in Class 5A, and Oakland Catholic in 4A. Chris Skatell is in his fourth season guiding GCC. Last year, the Centurions captured the WPIAL Class 2A Championship, the sixth in program history. Due to the PIAA’s competitive balance formula, the Centurions were bumped up in classification.

About the Bulldogs: Shady Side Academy left no doubt in its semifinals victory, blasting No. 12 Ellwood City 69-33 on Saturday at North Allegheny High School. The Bulldogs outscored the Wolverines 37-13 in the first half. Shady Side Academy junior guard Karis Thomas had a prolific performance, as she poured in 46 points in the win, while sophomore Leah Buford added 10 points. On the campaign, Thomas paces SSA with a scoring average of 19.3 points per game, while also dishing out 4.8 assists per contest. The Bulldogs’ second-leading scorer and top rebounder, Cassie Sauer, is sidelined with a hip injury, however. Prior to her ailment, the 6-foot-2 junior averaged 15 points and 13 boards. Buford and seniors Makiyah Mitchell and Cameron Capel, daughter of Pitt men’s basketball head coach Jeff Capel, are also key components for the Bulldogs. Shady Side Academy is one of just two unblemished teams remaining in the WPIAL. After earning a first-round bye in the 15-team bracket, Shady Side Academy cruised to a 55-20 win against Riverside in the quarterfinals. Jonna Burke, who has won more than 500 games in her storied coaching career, is in her fourth year leading the Bulldogs. A year ago, Shady Side Academy captured the WPIAL Class 3A title, the first in program history.