HS Girls’ Basketball: Freshman Black leads Tamaqua past Blue Mountain
Tamaqua's Millie Black (Photo by Karlee Feger)
ORWIGSBURG — Tamaqua wanted to avoid overtime this time around and got the job done.
Millie Black continued to add double-doubles to her stat line this season, as the freshman scored 10 points and collected 11 rebounds as Tamaqua defeated Blue Mountain 35-23 on Tuesday in a Schuylkill League Division I matchup.
The first time these teams met, the Blue Raiders pulled out a 53-45 victory in overtime Dec. 11 in Tamaqua.
Tuesday, Black scored six of her 10 points in the first quarter, helping the Raiders open the game with a 14-0 run. Makayla Keck scored the Eagles’ first points to close out the quarter, Keck tallying a team-high 12 points. Lauren Ligenza also got in rhythm early, scoring four of her 12 points in the paint.
Keck gave Blue Mountain a spark as she hit two 3-pointers in the second quarter, the only two of the game. Callie Peel added two free throws. Peel shot all six for the Eagles throughout the contest, making three. The Eagles held Tamaqua to only five points, a bucket from Kolbe Robb and three points from Ligenza, but still trailed 19-10 at halftime.
Black, Ligenza, and Kendle Miller combined for the Raiders’ 13 third-quarter points, including a 3-point play from Ligenza. Ligenza played a major role defensively as well, totaling eight rebounds and four blocks.
Robb sealed the game for the Raiders in the fourth, making three out of four free throws. Despite shooting 5-for-16 from the foul line on the night, rebounding proved to be the most important factor for Tamaqua. The Eagles scored seven points in the fourth, Peel scoring three.
The victory improves to Tamaqua to 15-3 overall, 7-3 in Division I and gives the Raiders a two-game lead on defending league champion Blue Mountain (6-10, 5-5) for the third Schuylkill League playoff spot from Division I.
Blue Mountain will defend home court as they face Panther Valley on Thursday. Tamaqua will travel to Pine Grove on Thursday Night.
