Trib HSSN girls basketball player of the week for March 3, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Monday, March 3, 2025 | 7:17 PM

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Trib HSSN girls basketball player of the week – Erica Gribble

School: Greensburg Central Catholic

Class: Junior

Height: 5-foot-10

Position: Guard

#Earned: Erica Gribble has a knack for coming up large when the spotlight is shining brightest. Last year as a sophomore, she averaged just over 20 points per game for the season but dropped 28 points in the 2024 WPIAL Class 2A championship game win over Serra Catholic. This year, she finished in the top 10 in scoring averaging with over 22 ppg. However, she has raised her game again in the postseason, scoring 27, 22 and 16 points in wins over Brownsville in the first round, Quaker Valley in the quarterfinals and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in the semifinals. Returning to The Pete in search of a second straight district crown, this time in Class 3A, Greensburg Central Catholic was the hunter and not the hunted like last winter after the Centurions lost to undefeated Shady Side Academy twice in the regular season. GCC trailed by 10 points at halftime and Gribble had been held to seven points in the first two quarters. However, the junior and the Centurions came to life big time in the second half, outscoring the Bulldogs in the third and fourth quarters 38-23 to come back and claim gold for a second straight year by winning, 56-51. Gribble was 12 of 24 from the field, including 9 of 14 in the second half, and a perfect 5 for 5 from the free throw line. She finished with 31 points.

Background: With still a year left in her high school career, Gribble has already committed to play her college basketball at the University of Richmond. Erica is the youngest of three girls who have all been outstanding on the hardwood. Oldest sister Alayna starred at Norwin before playing college basketball at Pitt and St. Joseph. Olivia also played her high school basketball at Norwin and went on to play at Marietta College. During covid-19, Erica attended a Catholic middle school and decided to attend Greensburg Central Catholic instead of Norwin in part because she wanted to continue to grow her faith. When she was younger, Gribble played volleyball, soccer and some softball before focusing her athletic career on basketball before she attended middle school.

What coach says: “Generally speaking, I think it was just desire and the continued maturation of her as a player,” Greensburg Central Catholic coach Chris Skatell said of Gribble’s title game performance. “She is getting more and more comfortable in the big games.”

“Just her approach to preparation and working hard to keep her play at a high level consistently, while keeping her teammates involved,” Skatell said about the junior guard’s play in the playoffs. “At this point, she knows her responsibilities on both ends of the floor and her teammates recognize that and do everything they can to help her perform at a high level.”

“She has begun to accept the responsibilities that come with being a leader and with meeting the expectations of her level of play,” Skatell said about how she has improved this winter.

“I think they are,” Skatell said when asked if he thinks GCC is ready to make another long run in the state playoffs. “This group loves to play and loves to compete. For many of them, they play year-round, so it is just more fun.”

2025 Trib HSSN Girls Basketball Players of the Week

Week 8 – Carla Brown, Aliquippa

Week 7 – Greta O’Brien, Avonworth

Week 6 – Kylie Fruehstorfer, Union

Week 5 – Aubree Hupp, Blackhawk

Week 4 – Emma Larkin, Geibel Catholic

Week 3 – Rylee Kalocay, Upper St. Clair

Week 2 – Iyanna Wade, Clairton

Week 1 – Oumou “Mimi” Thiero, Quaker Valley

Tags: Greensburg C.C.