No. 11 Ellwood City rallies past No. 1 Gladiators to claim title
By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com
South Allegheny saw its championship aspirations come to a heartbreaking end Monday as No. 11 Ellwood City’s Cinderella ride will continue into the state playoffs as the Wolverines upset the No. 1 Gladiators, 53-50, to claim the program’s first WPIAL championship.
Ellwood City had two previous championship appearances in 1985 and 1986.
“It’s a disappointing outcome to finish our run together with a group like this,” SA coach Tony DiCenzo said. “Once the emotion wears off though, they’ll realize how special of a season this has been and how much they’ve done for this program, community and school.”
South Allegheny’s Antonio Epps got off a potential game-tying 3-pointer as time expired but it caromed off the left of the iron.
Omar Faulkner led the way for the Gladiators (17-5) with 18 points, a premier performance in his final game despite not playing for nearly the entire first quarter after picking up two fouls in the first 1:51. He ended with a double-double, grabbing 12 rebounds and adding seven blocks.
“Omar’s a rock for us,” DiCenzo said. “He sat for the better of the first quarter, but when we needed him he was there. He gave us solid production. He’s one of the most athletic players in the WPIAL when he gets the ball around the rim.”
Antonio Epps finished with 10 points for South Allegheny, but it was a struggle for him and brother Bryce.
“I thought they did a good job of extending their defense, not allowing those two to catch the ball in a scoring position,” DiCenzo said of Ellwood City’s defense. “You have to give credit to them, they played a really good game.”
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