1989-90 Aliquippa Gils’ Basketball
Class: 2022 | Category: Team

Aliquippa coach Donna Richey took a group of talented freshmen, trusted them as starters and watched them work, while she stressed discipline and fundamentals. The result was one of the greatest dynasties in WPIAL girls’ basketball history. The Quips went 112-13 in a four-year span with four undefeated section titles, four WPIAL titles, and consecutive state championships in 1989 and 1990. They were led by a pair of 2,000-point scorers in 5-foot-10 forward Mona Gaffney (2,038) and 5-foot-7 guard Carrie Bordas (2,658), who graduated as the all-time leading scorer in WPIAL history. The two combined for 44 points and 29 rebounds in the 1989 state championship game to defeat Camp Hill Trinity, 57-47, at Hersheypark Arena. The state basketball title was the school’s first since the boys won in 1949. The Quips won without any senior starters, so talk of a repeat began immediately. As an encore in 1990, Aliquippa went 30-2 and defeated Trinity in a state championship rematch. This time, Bordas and Gaffney each scored 34 points, and the Quips won, 89-62. The teammates both were selected for the Pittsburgh Press “Finest Five” in 1990. Richey, who started the Aliquippa program, retired after the season with a career record of 324-67 in 13 years. She was inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame in 2013. Aliquippa earned its four WPIAL titles with wins over Sto-Rox, 50-48, in 1987; Carlynton, 59-46, in 1988; Mount Alvernia; 69-63, in 1989; and Carlynton, 62-52, in 1990. Only five schools in WPIAL history have won four or more consecutive WPIAL girls’ titles. The 1989-90 roster included Bordas, Gaffney, Marshonda Henderson, Ahna Dorsett, Michelle Smith, Keisha Pitts, Joneatra Henry, Rachelle Ceccarelli, Michelle Witt, Tina Young, and Malinda Lorkovich. Dawn Savage and Darlene Stone were members of the 1988-89 team.