Gladiators learn to deal with success
It’s foreign territory for South Allegheny in nearly every way
There has been a certain emptiness surrounding the South Allegheny basketball program for decades. It is evident on a wall in the school gym.
The school opened in 1966, and the gym has a banner hanging for section championships in boys basketball. It’s nearly empty, except for one year (1997).
But all of a sudden, with a young team that doesn’t have one senior, South Allegheny is relevant in WPIAL basketball. Actually, more than relevant. SA stands for Suddenly Awesome this season, and you could say the emptiness is disappearing. When South Allegheny won at home Thursday against Deer Lakes, the gym was nearly full.
“It was the best environment for a game since I’ve been here,” said coach Tony DiCenzo, in his eighth season.
People in Glassport are glad about the Gladiators — and for good reason. South Allegheny is 13-1. Heading into WPIAL games Friday night, South Allegheny was tied with Springdale for the most wins in the WPIAL. South Allegheny is the Post-Gazette’s No. 4 Class 3A team.
South Allegheny has become one of the biggest turnaround stories in the WPIAL this season.
A year ago, the Gladiators were 6-15. South Allegheny never has won much, with only 28 victories in the previous five seasons. The Gladiators won one game in 2015-16, no games eight years ago and have been to the playoffs only seven times in school history. That lone section championship came 23 years ago when a young Dave DeGregorio (now North Catholic’s coach) was the head coach of the Gladiators.
“One thing we’ve tried to emphasize is our approach to things,” DiCenzo said. “South Allegheny hasn’t had any sustained success in almost any sports. This is kind of foreign. We have to understand the talent and ability is there, but successful teams handle success in a certain manner.
“All this is new to our team, and it’s funny because sometimes I might even prefer to play on the road because sometimes it might be a little much for our kids to handle and be composed at home. But, at the same time, you want them to embrace it and enjoy it because it is awesome.”
While South Allegheny has been opening eyes around the WPIAL, DiCenzo, who played on a West Mifflin team that made it to the PIAA Class 3A championship in 2002, said he is not totally surprised. He saw flashes of potential in the last half of the 201819 season when he had a fully healthy team.
“We started one senior, three sophomores and a freshman last year,” DiCenzo said. “But we saw some promise, and it carried over to spring and summer leagues.
“We played a lot in the offseason, and the kids worked hard. But to be 13-1 after 14 games, I don’t think I would’ve predicted that. We’ve really grown up.”
The youth movement has been tremendous for South Allegheny. Junior guard Antonio Epps is averaging 20 points a game. His brother, freshman guard Bryce, is averaging 15. One of the big keys to this team, though, has been the play of 6foot-5 forward Omar Faulkner, who averages 15 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks.
“He’s the difference-maker,” DiCenzo said. “He has to be one of the best shot-blockers in the WPIAL. He really makes it difficult to score around the rim.”
Defense has been a key as the Gladiators have allowed only 45 points a game. The Gladiators have at least a two-game lead on the rest of Class 3A Section 3.
“I think some of this [success] probably has to do a lot with sticking together and being a lot more dedicated than past years,” Antonio Epps said. “We put in a lot of work in the summer, played in a lot of summer games.
“Right now, we’re just rolling along and going with the flow. But I think if we put in even more work, we can be even better.”