HS Boys’ Basketball: Milestone night for Tide’s Alvarez; Vikings knock off Hurricanes
Christian Alvarez, Pottsville boys' basketball
POTTSVILLE — Milestones tend to arrive quietly, but Christian Alvarez’s came fittingly in motion — a steal, a dish and a finish that capped a night emblematic of his career.
Alvarez scored his 1,000th career point midway through the second quarter after taking a feed from Chris Hobbs following a turnover as Pottsville rolled past North Schuylkill 54-35 in Schuylkill League Division I boys’ basketball game at Martz Hall.
The Crimson Tide steadily widened the gap behind Alvarez, who finished with a team-high 18 points, while Davey Kunstek added eight and several others chipped in four apiece.
Pottsville’s defense set the tone early, holding North Schuylkill to single digits in the first two quarters before maintaining control the rest of the way.
North Schuylkill was led by Julian Nelson’s eight points, with Raylin Cabral adding seven and Jude Maziekas six, but the Spartans struggled to find consistent offense against Pottsville’s pressure and deep bench.
NORTH SCHUYLKILL (35) — Cairo 0 0-0 0, Damiter 0 2-4 2, Maziekas 2 0-2 6, Wall 0 0-0 0, Mengel 2 1-2 5, Kacilowicz 1 2-2 4, Kronkowski 0 0-0 0, Bani 0 0-0 0, Nelson 3 2-4 8, Cabral 3 0-2 7, Gallagher 0 1-2 1, Hannon 1 0-0 2. Totals 12 8-18 35.
POTTSVILLE (54) — Killian 0 0-0 0, Hobbs 1 0-0 2, McGinley 2 0-0 4, Allen 0 0-0 0, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Leskin 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 8 1-1 18, Bowers 0 0-0 0, Eroh 0 0-0 0, Kunstek 4 0-0 8, Clews 2 0-2 4, Kimber 2 0-0 4, Viars 1 2-2 4. Totals 24 4-7 54.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
| NS (4-2, 3-1) | 3 | 6 | 11 | 15 | 35 |
| Po (4-2, 4-0) | 9 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 54 |
3-Point FGs: Maziekas 2, Cabral, Hobbs, Alvarez
Officials: Shober, Dennis, Senanus
JV Score: North Schuylkill 44-41
Williams Valley 55, Schuylkill Haven 51
TOWER CITY — Evan Achenbach powered Williams Valley with a game-high 20 points as the Vikings edged Schuylkill Haven in Division II action.
Achenbach’s steady scoring anchored a second-half push, while Gabe Rodriguez added nine and Evan Kandybowski chipped in eight. The Vikings outscored Haven by seven over the final two quarters to seal the win.
Schuylkill Haven was led by Alan Evans’ 18 points and Justin Watcher’s 16. This is the Hurricanes first loss of the season.
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN (51) — Evans 5 3-6 18, Diehl 0 0-0 0, Kelly 2 2-2 7, Watcher 6 2-4 16, Heim 1 1-2 3, Rossi 0 1-2 1, Lucas 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 9-16 51.
WILLIAMS VALLEY (55) — Boykins 1 0-0 2, Rodriguez 3 1-2 9, Dickerson 2 0-0 5, Rautzahn 0 1-2 1, Achenbach 10 5-11 20, Kandybowski 2 2-2 8, B. Zilinski 0 0-0 0, K. Zilinski 2 1-2 5. Totals 21 10-19 55.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
| SH (6-1, 3-1) | 11 | 11 | 12 | 17 | 51 |
| WV (4-1, 3-1) | 8 | 9 | 19 | 19 | 55 |
3-Point FGs: Evans 5, Diehl 2, Kelly, Watcher 2, Rodriguez 2, Dickerson
Officials: Miller
JV Score: Haven 54-24
Minersville 76, Mahanoy Area 53
MINERSVILLE — Minersville’s offense came in waves as the Miners overwhelmed Mahanoy Area in a Division I game behind a balanced attack that featured five players in double figures.
Chase Zimerofsky led the way with 16 points, while Jordan Bowers added 15 and Shazier Bethea and Shane Fessler each finished with 12. Nolan Plesnarski also reached double figures with 12 as Minersville controlled the game from the opening quarter.
Mahanoy Area was paced by Ryan Zilker’s game-high 20 points, while Cam Smith added 12.
MAHANOY AREA (53) — Gallagher 0 0-0 0, Bowman 2 0-0 4, Perez 0 0-0 0, Wagner 1 0-0 2, DiCasimirro 1 0-0 2, Smith 3 0-0 12, Contreras 4 0-1 9, Byrne 0 0-0 0, Kowalchick 2 0-0 4, Zilker 9 2-4 20. Totals 23 2-5 53.
MINERSVILLE (76) — Rogers 2 0-0 5, Zimerofsky 7 0-0 16, Fessler 5 0-0 12, Bethea 4 2-2 12, McGrath 0 0-0 0, Seddon 0 0-0 0, Pepin 0 0-0 0, Toth 0 0-0 0, Bowers 7 0-0 15, Mealey 1 1-2 4, Plesnarski 4 0-0 12. Totals 30 3-4 76.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
| Mah (2-4, 2-2) | 11 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 53 |
| Min (5-1, 3-1) | 19 | 23 | 23 | 11 | 76 |
3-Point FGs: Smith 4, Contreras, Rogers, Zimerofsky 2, Fessler 2, Bethea 2, Bowers, Mealey, Plesnarski 4
Officials: Houser
JV Score: Mahanoy Area 40-36
Blue Mountain 60, Panther Valley 36
ORWIGSBURG — Blue Mountain used a strong third quarter to pull away from Panther Valley in Division I play.
Tyeirre Meade and Beck Henninger each scored 13 points to lead the Eagles, while Evan Setlock added 12 as Blue Mountain outscored Panther Valley 20-3 in the third.
Panther Valley was led by Jake Moyer’s 16 points and Chase McArdle’s 10.
PANTHER VALLEY (36) — Moyer 5 4-4 16, Crampsie 0 0-0 0, McArdle 3 3-5 10, Hall 1 0-0 3, Breiner 0 0-0 0, Mitchell 0 0-0 0, Gjoca 0 0-2 0, Revell 0 0-0 0, Baneravage 0 0-2 0, Thomas 1 2-3 4, Smith 1 0-0 2, Maynard 0 1-2 1, Williams 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 10-20 36.
BLUE MOUNTAIN (60) — Meade 5 3-5 13, Setlock 5 0-2 12, 3 0-3 8, Pritiskutch 0 0-0 0, Disante 0 1-2 1, Singh 0 0-0 0, Werner 3 1-2 7, Henninger 4 3-4 13, McDonough 0 0-0 0, Wargo 0 0-0 0, Schuster 0 0-0 0, Gaddy 2 2-2 6. Totals 22 12-20 60.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
| PV (0-6, 0-4) | 9 | 9 | 3 | 15 | 36 |
| BM (2-3, 1-2) | 10 | 17 | 20 | 13 | 60 |
3-Point FGs: Setlock 2, Henninger 2, Moter 2, McArdle, Hall
Officials: Gerchak, Phillips, Lopez
JV Score: 52-52 tie
Weatherly 66, Shenandoah Valley 43
SHENANDOAH — Weatherly jumped out early and never looked back, strolling past Shenandoah Valley in Division II action.
Niko Saldukas led the Wreckers with a game-high 20 points, while Corbin Wagner added 13 and Dom Kokinda chipped in 12.
Izayah Lopez’s 16 points led the Blue Devils.
WEAHTERLY (66) — Kokinda 5 2-2 12, I. McKeegan 1 0-0 3, Saldukas 9 0-0 20, Davis 2 1-2 5, Wagner 6 1-1 13, Adler 5 0-1 11, J. McKeegan 0 0-0 0, Hinkle 0 2-2 2, Cuddeford 0 0-0 0, DeLauretis 0 0-2 0. Totals 28 6-10 66.
SHENANDOAH VALLEY (43) — Reyes 2 0-0 5, Rivera 0 0-0 0, Gonzalez 1 0-0 2, J. Hernandez 0 0-0 0, Burrows 3 1-3 8, Lopez 7 0-3 16, B. Hernanadez 2 0-0 4, Christopher 0 0-0 0, Bench 0 2-2 2, Pagan 3 0-0 6, Ramirez 0 0-0 0, Townes 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 3-8 43.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
| Wea (3-2, 2-2) | 22 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 66 |
| SV (1-6, 0-4) | 12 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 43 |
3-Point FGs: I. McKeegan, Saldukas 2, Adler, Reyes, Burrows, Lopez 2
Officials: Marquadt, Melewsky
Tamaqua 56, Pine Grove 48
TAMAQUA — Tamaqua closed strong to fend off Pine Grove in Division I play.
Gavin Edmonds poured in a game-high 22 points to lead the Blue Raiders, while Terrance McDowell added 12 and Jakin Tamagini chipped in eight. Tamaqua outscored Pine Grove in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Pine Grove was paced by Dane Hannevig’s 11 points and Hayden Felty’s 10.
PINE GROVE (48) — Hitz 0 0-0 0, Smeltz 1 0-0 3, Fairell 0 0-0 0, Hannevig 2 5-6 11, Witmer 1 0-2 3, Schneck-Haines 2 4-5 8, Herber 1 0-0 3, Felty 4 0-0 10, Kolb 3 2-5 8, Wolff 0 0-0 0, Snyder 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 11-18 48.
TAMAQUA (56) — Chalk 0 0-0 0, McDowell 4 2-9 12, McCabe 0 1-4 1, Edmonds 7 5-8 22, Schickram 1 0-0 2, Shannon 1 3-4 5, Frohnheiser 1 2-2 4, Makovec 0 0-2 0, Tamagini 2 3-4 8, Broadway 1 0-2 2. Totals 17 16-35 56.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
| PG (2-5, 1-3) | 6 | 8 | 20 | 18 | 48 |
| Tam (1-6, 1-2) | 10 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 56 |
3-Point FGs: Hannevig 2, Felty 2, Smeltz 1, Witmer 1, Herber 1, Edmonds 3, McDowell 2, Tamagini 1
JV Score: Tamaqua 49-31
Lourdes 47, Marian 40
COAL TWP. — Lourdes defeated Marian in Division II action.
Jacob De La Cruz led Marian with 15 points, while Greg Tirpak added 10.
Statistics for Lourdes were unavailable at press time.
MARIAN (40) — Tom 2 1-2 5, Nunez 2 0-0 4, Ju. De La Cruz 1 0-0 2, Ja. De La Cruz 6 0-0 15, Tirpak 2 5-7 10, Cannon 1 2-2 4. Totals 14 8-11 40.
LOURDES (47) — No info provided.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
| Mar (3-3, 1-3) | 10 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 40 |
| Lou (3-3, 2-2) | 14 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 47 |
