Greensburg Central Catholic has rolled through the PIAA playoffs with little resistance, a program with a look in its eye and a goal on its mind.
“We want a state championship,” senior guard Erica Gribble said.
It remains to be seen if the Centurions (23-7), who have a winning margin in the state playoffs of 25.5 points, will win their finale in runaway fashion when they take on Holy Redeemer (22-8) at 6 p.m. Thursday at Giant Center in Hershey.
But in case it is a tight PIAA 3A girls basketball championship game, they can refer to the “Comeback Kids” of 1996-97, who brought home the school’s first state title.
The date was March 21, 1997, and the venue was HersheyPark Arena, where the GCC girls had lost in the PIAA final a year earlier to Pine Grove (67-59 in overtime).
Greensburg Central Catholic trailed Trinity (Camp Hill) by 13 points in the first half — nine at halftime (28-19) — so it knew a state basketball championship was going to take some work.
It would be a climb, but not necessarily a steep one. Not for this group.
The Centurions didn’t want to go home without the trophy two years in a row, so they chipped away at the deficit, staging a second-half rally to squeeze past Trinity, 48-45, and claim their first state title.
“At the half, no one seemed fazed because we had been in this situation so many times and knew we would wear them down,” said then-senior team member Anna (Weber) Ashbaugh, whose daughter, freshman Skylar Ashbaugh, is on this year’s team. “I specifically remember Becky Berrett walking to the line near the end of the fourth (quarter) and hitting the first free throw and looking over at the bench with a smile and then sinking the second one because Trinity called a timeout to try to ice her. “
GCC (31-2) also rallied to get past Girard, 38-31, in the semis, taking in the moniker “Comeback Kids.”
A senior-led group carved the benchmark every team since has been chasing.
Hillary (Prokay) Dranko scored 15 points after halftime and finished with 21, while Jenny Berrett-Guler added 17, including a key jumper to put the Centurions ahead 43-41 with 3 minutes, 48 seconds to go.
“I told the girls to pick it up defensively and hit the boards in the second half,” then-coach Scott Breegle said.
Said Theresa (Dannhardt) Skoloda, whose daughter, Morgan, is a junior on this year’s team: “Since freshmen year, we talked about winning states. We knew how to overcome because of our experience.”
GCC came back from 23 down to beat Geibel Catholic in the ‘97 WPIAL championship game, so the fortitude to play from behind without trepidation became a team trait.
“There was so much motivation,” Ashbaugh said. “And the underclassmen bought in and brought so much energy and intangibles that made the puzzle fit.
“Standing there, looking at your medal around your neck and holding a championship trophy, just knowing it validated all the hard work that you and your team put in that many don’t see, just seeing all the family, friends, faculty and students come out and support was so exciting. And of course, the locker room and bus ride was so fun. Just dancing, singing, laughing and crying.”
The memories are still thick for Robin Mull, a defensive standout who instantly recalls the comebacks and the celebrations.
“It’s one my fondest memories to relive,” said Mull, who played four years at Point Park. “What I remember most about winning the semifinal and advancing to the state championship is the overwhelming sense of accomplishment. From the moment the previous season ended, as a team we had one goal: the ride to Hershey. That goal carried us through summer AAU, preseason workouts, the regular season and the playoffs.
“What makes it unforgettable is sharing that moment with your teammates and the fans who were behind you the entire way.”
Morgan Skoloda wants nothing more than to help bring a second PIAA gold medal to her household.
“It’s special,” she said. “Basketball has always been special to me and my mom.”
Sarah (Kovach) Thompson, the wife of GCC athletic director John “JT” Thompson, also was a member of the ‘97 team.
1997 GCC girls basketball team
Anna (Weber) Ashbaugh (Sr.)
Shannon Baker (Sr.)
Jenny Berrett-Guler (Sr.)
Rebecca Berrett (Sr.)
Mara Brecht (Fr.)
Jola Breegle (So.)
Meghan (McManus) Campfield (Jr.)
Alicia Caranese (Fr.)
Christine Caruso (Jr.)
Hilary (Prokay) Dranko (Sr.)
Jocelyn Lesko (So.)
Robin Mull (Sr.)
Aimee Nicola (Fr.)
Rebecca Perney (Fr.)
Theresa (Dannhardt) Skoloda (Sr.)
Kari Sochacki (Jr.)
Christina (Reitano) Sutter (So.)
Sarah (Kovach) Thompson (Fr.)
Dena Vallano (So.)
Missy (Rakers) White (Jr.)
Coach: Scott Breegle
Assistant coach: Ed Pultz