Just a few minutes into the WPIAL Class 2A Championship on Saturday, top-seeded Aliquippa held an 11-0 lead, keyed by a hot-shooting start. Unfortunately for Greensburg Central Catholic, that shooting pace for the Quips never slowed down, as Aliquippa cruised to a 69-32 victory at the Petersen Events Center to claim the gold.

The Quips secured their 14th WPIAL title, matching New Castle for the most in boys basketball history, while the No. 2 Centurions were denied their first title.

Aliquippa’s scorching start led to a 16-3 margin after the opening quarter, a frame in which the Quips knocked down four 3-pointers. That was a sign of how the game would unfold, as the Quips continued to shoot at an unbelievable clip from behind the arc.

While the Centurions started to find life offensively in the quarter after being held without a field goal in the first frame, GCC couldn’t slow down Aliquippa, which added four more trifectas, including three by Josh Pratt.

Already holding a 32-12 lead at the half, the Quips (21-5) and Pratt wasted no time in sealing the outcome, as he poured in 13 more points in the third quarter, pushing the game into the mercy rule.

Pratt finished with 33 points on 13-of-20 shooting, including a remarkable 7-of-9 from distance, while Quentin Goode added 11 points for Aliquippa. Collectively, the Quips shot better than 58 percent from the field, including 12-of-15 from behind the arc.

In the setback, Tyree Turner led Greensburg Central Catholic (23-3), scoring 16 points. Franco Alvarez, meanwhile, contributed six points and seven rebounds.

Both teams will commence the PIAA Class 2A tournament next Saturday.