Community Sees Aliquippa Basketball Team Off To State Championship With Cheers, Rally
ALIQUIPPA (KDKA) -- "Bring it home from Hershey!" That's the message Aliquippa Elementary kids imparted to a high school team with a record of 29-0.
During a pep rally in the gym, players received hugs and cheers from hundreds of students, including their younger brothers and sisters.
Coach Nick Lackovich and his team is one game away from history.
"These guys were the same as these kids are back in 2007, when the guys went to the state championship," coach Lackovich says. "And we did the same thing then."
But that team wasn't undefeated. The only Aliquippa basketball team to ever finish with an unblemished record wound up winning the state championship back in 1949.
"This is the yearbook for the class of 1949," says 89-year-old Gino Piroli, class of '43. "And this is the state championship basketball team, undefeated: 29-0. I'm not sure they know the impact they had on this community."
Fans traveled by plane, and by train, to see the Quips win the state championship in Philadelphia.
"When the game was over," Piroli recalls, "the high school band marched down the middle of the street in Philadelphia. I think it may have been Market Street. And the crowd was behind them as they went to the train. It was just a joyous occasion."
Those cheers of long ago echo in the grade school gym that the high school visitors remember.
"I played basketball in this gym," says player Darien Fields. "It was a little different when I was here, but all the teachers recognize me."
One of those teachers is Pam Swanson.
"We're proud of them," she smiles. "We're looking for that win from Hershey. Let's go Quips!"
Aliquippa boasts a long line of sports heroes. And yet, the teacher says, "They don't forget where they come from. We love it."
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