PIAA Class 2A boys basketball semifinals

Greensburg Central Catholic (26-3) vs Sewickley Academy (23-5)

Saturday at Noon at Peters Township's AHN Arena

Pregame at 11:50 a.m. on WSN Audio - LISTEN LIVE

WSN Broadcasters: Eric Thomas and Greg Bisignani

About the Centurions: Greensburg Central Catholic exacted a measure of revenge last Saturday in the state quarterfinals, defeating rival Jeannette 46-35 at Norwin High School. The Centurions not only eliminated the WPIAL champions, but avenged a loss to the Jayhawks in the state postseason last year. Samir Crosby amassed a game-best 13 points for the Centurions, including shooting 9-of-11 at the foul line, while AJ Tarpley added a dozen points. Greensburg Central Catholic opened the state playoffs with a 54-43 win at McConnellsburg, and followed with a 66-52 victory against Neshannock at North Allegheny High School. GCC entered the WPIAL postseason as the top seed, but was upset by Union in the quarterfinals. From there, the Centurions rebounded with a pair of wins in the consolation bracket, earning the fifth seed from the WPIAL. On the season, senior Liam Gallagher paces GCC with 14.4 points per game, while Tarpley, a sophomore, contributes 12.3 points. Crosby, who averages 9.5 points, leads the team in assists per game, while Brady O’Rourke, a Saint Vincent College commit, is the top rebounder. Christian Hyland, the GCC head coach in his sixth year, played in the state semifinals with the Centurions in his senior year in 2014.

About the Panthers: Sewickley Academy ousted Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 42-35 last Saturday at Peters Township in the quarterfinals clash. The Panthers trailed 12-5 after the first quarter, but overcame the slow start to outpace the Chargers in each of the next three quarters, including 14-7 in the fourth. Nolan Donnelly led Sewickley Academy with 14 points, while Mamadou Kane netted 13 points. Earlier in the PIAA bracket, the Panthers outclassed Windber in a 64-36 home victory, and then ousted Lakeview 56-35 at Ellwood City High School. Sewickley Academy, which was the No. 2 seed in the WPIAL playoffs, fell to Jeannette in the semifinals, but bested Neshannock in the consolation game to finish third in the district. Heading into the state playoffs, junior Lucas Grimsley was the Panthers’ leading scorer, while 6-foot-8 sophomore Adam Ikamba led the team in rebounding, steals, and blocks. Kane, a freshman, also stands 6-foot-8. Former NBA player Mike Iuzzolino is in his first season at the helm of the program after spending eight years as an assistant coach for Robert Morris University.

About the Matchup: The winner advances to the PIAA Class 2A Championship at the GIANT Center in Hershey at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 28 to play either District 3 runner-up Linville Hill or District 4 Champion Northwest Area. GCC has reached the state title game twice, in 1980 and 2011, but has never won PIAA gold. Sewickley Academy has boasted state supremacy three times – winning in 1997, 2010, and 2017 – while settling for silver in 2004.