Christian Alvarez, Pottsville boys' basketball

POTTSVILLE — Non-league victories over a talented opponent during the holiday break can provide a big boost for a basketball team heading into the new year.

The Pottsville boys’ squad got one of those Tuesday.

Christian Alvarez scored a game-high 30 points and Ryder Bowers hit a key 3-pointer in overtime as the Crimson Tide edged Northwestern Lehigh 64-62 at Martz Hall.

The victory was the fourth straight for Pottsville (7-2), the top-ranked District 11 boys’ team in Class 5A. The loss was the first of the season for the Tigers (6-1), who are the top-ranked boys’ team in Class 4A.

Alvarez scored 13 of his points in the first quarter as Pottsville got out to a 19-11 lead. The Tide led 30-23 at halftime.

Northwestern Lehigh answered with a 16-7 run in the third quarter as Brady Krimmel scored nine of his team-high 23 points. Pottsville rallied to tie it in the fourth as Alvarez chipped in 10 more. The teams headed to OT tied at 55-55.

Bowers opened the extra session with a 3-pointer for Pottsville. He added a free throw later in OT to finish with 14 points. Josh Kimber had three points and Davey Kunstek hit a bucket in OT for Pottsville.

Pottsville drained a dozen 3-pointers in the game, as Alvarez had six and Bowers connected on three. Malachi Coleman added 14 points for the Tigers, who were a perfect 10-for-10 from the foul line.

NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH (62) — Bollinger 4 0-0 8, Zimmerman 4 0-0 9, Lagowy 1 0-0 3, Fitch 1 2-2 5, Krimmel 6 8-8 23, Wertman 0 0-0 0, Coleman 6 0-0 14. Totals 22 10-10 62.

POTTSVILLE (64) — Hobbs 1 0-0 3, McGinley 1 0-0 3, Allen 0 0-2 0, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 11 2-2 30, Bowers 4 3-5 14, Kunstek 4 0-0 9, Clews 0 0-0 0, Kimber 2 1-2 5. Totals 23 6-11 64.

3-point FGs: Zimmerman, Lagowy, Fitch, Krimmel 3, Coleman 2, Hobbs, McGinley, Alvarez 6, Bowers 3, Kunstek

Officials: Melusky, Gerchak, J. Dean

Girls’ Basketball

Northwestern Lehigh 54, Pottsville 35

POTTSVILLE — Natalie Conner scored 15 of her game-high 29 points in a big second-quarter outburst as the Tigers downed the Crimson Tide at Martz Hall.

Lauren Brennan had a team-high 12 points for Pottsville, which trailed 15-11 early in the second quarter. The Tide didn’t score the rest of the frame as Northwestern Lehigh closed the first half on an 18-0 run.

The Tigers kept rolling in the third quarter, scoring the first 17 points of the period to go up 50-11 — that’s right, a 35-0 run over the two middle frames.

It was the eighth straight win for Northwestern Lehigh (9-1), which has scored 49 or more points in all 10 of its games. The loss was the seventh straight for Pottsville (1-7).

NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH (54) — Berhnard 1 0-0 3, C. Gober 1 0-0 2, Freeman 1 0-0 3, Zentz 0 0-0 0, Snyder 1 0-0 2, H. Gober 1 1-1 3, N. Conner 12 1-1 29, M. Conner 2 0-0 5, Leh 0 0-0 0, Reinhart 2 3-3 7. Totals 21 5-5 54.

POTTSVILLE (35) — Barnhart 2 1-1 5, Fegley 3 0-0 7, Siminitus 3 1-4 7, Goodman 0 0-0 0, Brennan 4 0-0 12, Ciavarella 0 0-0 0, Huda 2 0-0 4, Skripko 0 0-0 0, Curry 0 0-2 0. Totals 14 2-7 35.

3-point FGs: Berhnard, Freeman, N. Conner 4, M. Conner, Fegley, Brennan 4

Officials: Wood, Shinkus, Je. Misstishin