Defending champion Aliquippa outscored Fort Cherry in every quarter on the way to a 55-36 win over the Rangers in the WPIAL 2A semifinals. The Quips scored 7 points in 45 seconds in the middle of the second and the Rangers never got closer than seven the rest of the way. Josh Pratt and Cam Lindsey combined for 30 points to lead Aliquippa. Derek Errett had 14 for Fort Cherry, the only Rangers player in double figures. Aliquippa moves to Saturday’s WPIAL championship game. Fort Cherry will face Northgate Thursday to determine third place heading into the state tournament.
Earlier in the evening, the Fort Cherry girls got 26 points from Rainey Staub, 13 more off the bench from Brooke Cornali, in a solid win over Winchester Thurston. The Rangers fell behind 8-3 early but took the lead late in the first and never trailed again. Fort Cherry takes 7th place out of the WPIAL and will play at the District 10 champion in the opening round of the state tournament.
Trinity and Peters Township girls have state qualifier games Wednesday with the Fort Cherry boys playing for third on Thursday. For WPIAL brackets, CLICK HERE.
Tuesday, Feb. 27
WPIAL 7th place
2A Girls #4 Fort Cherry 61, #11 Winchester-Thurston 46 Listen/Watch Here
WPIAL Semifinals
2A Boys #1 Aliquippa 55, #4 Fort Cherry 36 Listen/Watch Here
Wednesday, Feb. 28
WPIAL 3rd place
6A Girls #5 Chartiers Valley at #2 Peters Township, 7:30 pm
WPIAL 5th place
5A Girls #4 Lincoln Park at #3 Trinity, 7:00 pm
Thursday, Feb. 29
WPIAL 3rd place
2A Boys #4 Fort Cherry at #3 Northgate, 7:00 pm (tentative)