FC has learned from first matchup with Aliquippa

Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter

There’s an old saying about those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. At Fort Cherry, that means don’t make the same mistakes you did when you played Aliquippa’s boys basketball team three weeks ago and you’ll have a chance to pull off an upset of the WPIAL champion.

Fort Cherry (23-6) will play Aliquippa (24-5) today in the PIAA Class 2A semifinals at Pine-Richland High School. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.

The winner advances to the state championship game Friday (2 p.m.) against either Holy Cross (24-3) or Constitution (25-6).

The Fort Cherry-Aliquippa game is a rematch of the WPIAL semifinals played Feb. 27. Aliquippa won that game, 55-36, and went on to win the district championship.

But for much of that game, Aliquippa had trouble shaking Fort Cherry. The Rangers trailed by six points after one quarter and 11 at halftime. In the second half, each time Aliquippa appeared to be on the verge of breaking the game open, Fort Cherry would respond with a flurry to stay within striking distance. The Quips didn’t pull away until the final minutes with a series of free throws.

Over Aliquippa’s last six postseason games, Fort Cherry is the only team to come within 20 points of the Quips.

“I think we came away from the first game knowing that this will be a tough game to win, but it’s also a game we can win,” said Fort Cherry coach Eugene Briggs.

So what does Fort Cherry have to do better this time?

“Protect the basketball,” Briggs said. “We can’t turn the ball over like we did. When they get the ball in the open court, they are really dangerous. In the half court, we can sort of control things with our zone (defense), but once they get in the open court, they are dangerous.”

Fort Cherry has been dangerous, too, since that first meeting with Aliquippa. The Rangers have reeled off four consecutive wins and find themselves in the state semifinals for the first time since the 1960-61 season.

And this time, Fort Cherry has an added dimension to its game. Sophomore swingman Matt Sieg did not play against Aliquippa the first time because of an ankle injury. His return has added quickness and toughness to the Rangers’ lineup.

“He helps you capture loose balls, grab rebounds and in closing out on shooters. That can be a big help,” Briggs explained.

Fort Cherry has averaged 72.5 points per game during its current winning streak, but Aliquippa allows only 42.3.

“We’ve been shooting it well,” Briggs said.

Fort Cherry received 22 points from Derek Errett, 21 from Shane Cornali and 19 from Blake Sweder in a 70-60 win over Jeannette in the quarterfinals Saturday.

“I asked our guys at practice what the best defense is,” Briggs said. “It’s a good offense. If you shoot the ball well and don’t turn it over, then you’re going to spend less time having to play defense.”