HERSHEY, Pa. – Oh the difference a year makes.
Last year, Aliquippa entered the PIAA Class AA boys’ title game undefeated only to watch Conwell-Egan end their dreams of being a champion.
But the Quips got their undefeated championship this year knocking off Mastery Charter North 68-49 at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pa.
It was sweet redemption for the Quips (30-0), who also lost the PIAA AA football title game to Southern Columbia in December.
Aliquippa led wire-to-wire and used a 23-10 third quarter to break open a 3-point halftime lead, 25-22.
Sheldon Jeter and Jassir Jordan were the stars for Aliquippa both scoring 22 points with Jordan adding seven assists while going 11 of 12 from the line. Chucky Humphries (seven points and eight rebounds) and Kaezon Pugh (nine points and 11 rebounds).
Jordan was key in the third quarter scoring 10 points.
Daeqwon Plowden led all scorers with 24 points for Mastery Charter North out of Philadelphia. He finished off a double-double with 11 rebounds. Rodney Ross chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds.
Aliquippa scored 16 points off of 18 Puma turnovers and outscored Mastery 16-8 in that category.
The Quips also shot 19 of 21 from the free-throw line and 23 of 49 from the field (46.9 percent).
Mastery was 19 of 50 (38 percent) from the field and just 3 of 17 from beyond the arc.
