Westmoreland County girls basketball notebook: Greensburg Salem to honor Rick Klimchock’s milestone

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 | 1:49 PM

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A blend of basketball knowledge and open-mindedness in an always-changing game, along with dependable people around him and sustained longevity, carried Rick Klimchock to a milestone victory.

“I’ve been in a constant love affair with hoops,” the Greensburg Salem girls basketball coach said. “It has lasted since 1978. No one has been more blessed or luckier than me.”

Klimchock collected his 400th win Monday night when the Golden Lions won at Freeport, 53-31.

Greensburg Salem will recognize Klimchock’s achievement before Thursday night’s home game against Derry.

Memories came rushing back when Klimchock was asked about a string of wins that started three decades ago.

“I have a good attitude toward life, and I try to pass that on to our players,” said Klimchock, 67, who is in his 29th year of coaching. “There are so many memories.”

Klimchock was greeted with an outpouring of congratulatory wishes after the game.

His breakdown of wins goes like this: 246 with the Jeannette boys (1992-2006), 82 with Greensburg Salem (2017-present), 63 with the Franklin Regional girls (2009-15) and nine with the Saltsburg boys (1989-91), his first head coaching stop.

He also worked with the Greensburg Central Catholic boys junior varsity (1978-86), was an assistant with the Saint Vincent men (2006-07) and later worked with SVC radio (2007-08), and was a GCC middle school coach (2015-17).

“I was always about relationships with our players, and I think I evolved to be a more compassionate and caring coach later in my career,” he said. “I cared mostly about culture building as time went on.”

‘Pep’ rally

Olivia Pepple scored her 1,000th career point Monday when Penn-Trafford defeated Latrobe, 51-40.

She not only reached the milestone on her home floor in a win, but she also did it in front of three other 1,000-point scorers who came to watch.

Bella Long, Maria Palarino and Samor Himes looked on, Long from the team bench, as Pepple hit the mark with a steal and layup late in the fourth quarter.

“It is really satisfying,” said Pepple, a Gannon commit. “I’m happy my family and friends were here to see it.”

Pepple is the seventh player in the program to score 1,000, joining Jeannie Alcorn, Autumn Himes, Samor Himes, Kristen Kudrick, Palarino and Long.

Another offer for Gribble

Erica Gribble, the standout sophomore at Greensburg Central Catholic, added another Division I scholarship offer to her growing list.

Monmouth is the latest school to reach out to Gribble, who first received a college offer from St. Joseph’s as an eighth grader.

Her other offers are Bucknell, Buffalo, Quinnipiac, Villanova and Navy.

Streak ends

Southmoreland is working to get the program back to playoff contention, and, while that may take some time, the Scotties took a step in the right direction by snapping a losing streak.

With a 42-30 win over Ringgold, Southmoreland ended a 12-game skid that started at the end of last season. Bea Pawlikowsky had 10 points in the win.

Schedule change

With snow in the forecast Friday, Southmoreland moved the boys game against Albert Gallatin to Thursday as part of a girls-boys home tripleheader. The Scotties girls will take on Yough at 5 p.m., followed by AG-Southmoreland junior varsity at 6:30 and the varsity boys game at 8.

Layups

Latrobe senior guard Elle Snyder, an Evansville commit, needs 22 points to reach 1,000 for her career. She has 13 double-doubles this season. The school single-season record is believed to be 15 by Emma Blair. … Jeannette freshman Adrianna Allison recorded a triple-double last week against Hillel Academy with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 steals. … The Ligonier Valley vs. United game set for Jan. 15 was moved to Jan. 26.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Jeannette, Latrobe, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland