Sean Meyers 
Last Updated: Fri Mar 01, 2024 - 2:10AM
With Greensburg Central Catholic and Serra Catholic having met twice already during the regular season, there were few surprises between the section foes in the third matchup on Thursday in the WPIAL Class 2A Championship. But while the Centurions managed to clamp down on Serra Catholic’s leading scorer, sophomore Abby Genes, the Eagles had no answers for GCC sophomore standout Erica Gribble. Gribble poured in a game-high 28 points, including 21 in the second half, to propel top-seeded Greensburg Central Catholic to a 62-41 victory at the Petersen Events Center in Oakland.
With the triumph, the Centurions captured their sixth WPIAL title, but the first since 2007. The No. 3 Eagles were denied their fifth district crown.
After just two points in the opening frame, Gribble produced five points in the second quarter, helping GCC’s offense get untracked after a sluggish start. Avery Davis, meanwhile, scored nine points in the opening half for GCC, helping stake the Centurions to a 30-21 advantage at the break.
With that same duo leading the way, the Centurions pushed their advantage to 15 points early in the third. However, Serra Catholic responded with an 8-0 run, engineered by the senior duo of Bri Battles and Cate Clarke.
Holding a nine-point edge entering the fourth quarter, the Centurions (20-6) turned to Gribble, who outscored Serra Catholic by herself after the intermission. Propelled by Gribble’s 14 points in the quarter, GCC outpaced Serra by a 20-8 margin to secure the championship.
In producing her 28 points, Gribble hit on 9-of-18 field goal attempts, including 5-of-7 from distance. Additionally, Davis notched 14 points, Mya Morgan had nine points, six rebounds, and four assists, and Abby Dlugos registered four points, 14 rebounds, and four assists.
In the setback for Serra Catholic (21-5), Clarke scored a team-high 13 points, while Battles added 11. Genes, who paced the team at better than 15 points per game entering play, was limited to just one point on 0-of-4 shooting.
Both teams will next turn their attention to the PIAA postseason, which commences next Friday.