HS Hoops Weekend Roundup: Minersville, Pottsville, Blue Mountain boys earn non-league wins

Blue Mountain and Marian boys' basketball athletes battle for a rebound during a non-league matinee Saturday at Blue Mountain (Photo by Eli Doyle).

POTTSVILLE — Shazier Bethea set the tone early and Minersville never loosened its grip.

Bethea scored a team-high 23 points as the Miners pulled away from Nativity in a 72-59 non-league victory Saturday afternoon atop Lawton’s Hill.

After a competitive opening quarter, Minersville took control with a decisive second-quarter surge, outscoring the Hilltoppers 27-15 to seize momentum and a commanding halftime lead.

The Battlin’ Miners leaned on balance and pace to keep Nativity from settling in. Bethea was aggressive in transition and on the glass, while Jordan Bowers added 15 points and Chase Zimerofsky chipped in 13, giving Minersville multiple scoring threats that forced defensive adjustments. Nolan Plesnarski finished with 14 points, consistently punishing gaps from the perimeter.

Nativity stayed within striking distance throughout behind Trey Keating, but Minersville’s ability to string together stops and convert on the other end proved decisive. The Miners outscored the Hilltoppers 18-9 in the third quarter to stretch the margin to double digits and answered every Nativity push in the fourth to close it out.

Keating led Nativity with a game-high 29 points, knocking down four 3-pointers and accounting for nearly half of the Hilltoppers’ offense. Layne Pasker added 12 points, but Minersville’s depth and tempo proved too much to overcome.

MINERSVILLE (72) — Adams 0 0-0 0, Rogers 0 2-2 2, Zimerofsky 5 1-1 13, Fessler 2 0-0 5, Bethea 9 4-5 23, Bowers 6 1-2 15, Mealey 0 0-0 0, Plesnarski 5 0-0 14. Totals 27 8-10 72.

NATIVITY (59) — Clarke 1 0-2 3, Bowman 3 0-0 8, Pasker 5 2-2 12, Lutzkanin 1 0-0 2, Swartz 1 0-0 3, Holley 1 0-0 2, Keating 11 4-4 29. Totals 23 6-8 59.

3-point FGs: Zimerofsky 2, Fessler, Bethea, Bowers 2, Keating 4, Clarke, Bowman 2, Swartz, Keating 3

Officials: Litwhiler, Wartman, McDonough

JV Score: Nativity 48-35

Pottsville 48, Palmyra 40

POTTSVILLE — Christian Alvarez provided steady offense down the stretch as Pottsville closed strong to secure a tight non-league win over Palmyra.

Alvarez finished with a team-high 15 points, while Ryder Bowers added nine.

Chris Hobbs went a near-perfect 9-for-10 at the foul line in the fourth quarter to help the Crimson Tide pull away as the fouls stacked up for Cougars.

PALMYRA (40) — Meley 1 0-0 2, B. Kyper 4 1-1 11, Bowman 0 0-0 0, Grumbein 2 2-2 6, Steelman 0 0-0 0, Johnson 0 0-0 0, Bown 2 0-0 5, M. Kyper 0 0-0 0, Warner 7 2-3 16, Robinson 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 5-6 40.

POTTSVILLE (48) — Hobbs 0 9-10 9, McGinley 1 0-0 2, Allen 1 1-2 4, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 5 4-6 15, Bowers 3 1-2 9, Kunstek 1 2-2 4, Clews 0 0-0 0, Kimber 1 2-2 4. Totals 12 19-24 48.

3-point FGs: B. Kyder 2, Bown, McGinley, Allen, Alvarez, Bowers 2

Officials: Groody, Melusky, Rizzo

JV Score: Palmyra 52-39

Blue Mountain 63, Marian 21

ORWIGSBURG — Cohen Werner poured in a game-high 21 points as the Eagles rolled past Marian.

Blue Mountain jumped out early and held Marian to single-digit scoring in three of the four quarters.

Sean Gaddy added 11 points and Tyierre Meade chipped in eight as the Eagles dominated on both ends.

MARIAN (21) — Shigo 0 0-0 0, Tom 1 0-0 2, Paulino 0 0-0 0, Ju. De La Cruz 3 1-2 8, Ja. De La Cruz 0 2-2 2, Acosta 0 0-0 0, Da. Rodino 0 0-0 0, Do. Rodino 0 0-0 0, Tirpak 0 0-0 0, Knock 0 0-0 0, Cannon 3 1-2 7, Gutsie 0 0-0 0, Bonner 1 0-0 2, Rebarchak 0 0-0 0. Totals 8 4-6 21.

BLUE MOUNTAIN (63) — Meade 4 0-0 8, Setlock 3 0-0 6, Kirby 2 3-3 7, Pritiskutch 1 0-0 3, DiSante 0 0-0 0, Singh 1 0-0 3, Werner 9 1-1 21, Henninger 1 0-0 2, McDonough 0 0-0 0, Schuster 1 0-0 2, Gaddy 4 2-2 11. Totals 26 6-6 63.

3-point FGs: Ju. De La Cruz, Pritiskutch, Singh, Werner 2, Gaddy

Officials: Cooper, Gerchak, Groody

JV Score: Blue Mountain 32-29

Tri-Valley 57, Halifax 46

HEGINS — Braeden Doyle scored a team-high 17 points as Tri-Valley downed Halifax in a non-league contest.

Gavin Klock added 12 points for the Dawgs, while Trey Porter chipped in 11.

Kingsley Johnson collected nine points, including a pair of triples, as the Dawgs broke open a tight game in the fourth quarter.

HALIFAX (46) — S. Crum 5 1-2 12, Dorman 4 4-6 12, Burkholder 1 0-0 2, Cooper 0 0-0 0, Zahurak 6 2-2 14, J. Crum 1 0-2 2, Custer 3 0-0 6, Paul 0 0-0 0, Attivo 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 7-12 46.

TRI-VALLEY (57) — Carl 2 1-2 5, Miller 1 1-2 3, Porter 5 1-2 11, Johnson 2 1-2 9, Doyle 7 2-2 17, Klock 4 4-5 12, Olmos 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 10-16 57.

3-point FGs: S. Crum, Johnson 2, Doyle

Officials: Melusky, Wojciechowski, Wartman

Fleetwood 60, Schuylkill Haven 58

FLEETWOOD — Max netted a team-high 20 points as Schuylkill Haven fell to Fleetwood in a dramatic non-league game.

Heim buried a game-tying 3-pointer with 10.0 remaining to knot the score at 58-58, capping a late Hurricanes rally and setting the stage for a dramatic finish. But Fleetwood answered immediately, as C.J. Sallee pushed the ball coast to coast and finished at the rim on a last-second drive to break the tie and lift the Tigers over Haven.

Alan Evans added 16 points and Justin Watcher totaled 12 for the Hurricanes, who now dropped all three losses by a combined seven points this season.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN (58) — Evans 6 2-2 16, Diehl 0 0-0 0, Kelly 4 0-0 8, Watcher 6 0-0 14, Heim 7 2-3 20, Lucas 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 4-5 58.

FLEETWOOD (60) — Herndon 0 1-2 1, Donly 1 0-0 2, Sallee 5 3-4 15, Ryan 4 0-2 8, Senna 11 2-2 25, Szilli 3 1-2 9. Totals 24 7-12 60.

3-point FGs: Evans 2, Watcher 2, Heim 4, Salles 2, Senna, Szilli 2

JV Score: Fleetwood 38-32

Lourdes 61, MMI Prep 30

COAL TWP. — Brighton Scicchitano poured in a game-high 25 points as Lourdes powered MMI Prep in non-league action.

Gaven Renn added 14 points and Billy Rishel chipped in 10 as the Red Raiders’ built separation early and never looked back.

Lourdes held MMI Prep scoreless through the first quarter.

MMI PREP (30) — Dovicak 1 1-2 4, Figueroa 6 3-6 16, Kringe 1 0-0 3, Temchatin 0 0-0 0, Arias 2 0-0 4, Zack 1 0-0 3. Totals 11 4-8 30.

LOURDES (61) — G. Renn 4 4-6 14, Moore 0 1-2 1, Scicchitano 10 4-6 25, B. Rishel 5 0-0 10, J. Rishel 2 1-3 5, Pulaski 0 0-0 0, B. Renn 1 0-0 2, Shegenoski 2 0-0 4, Cicchiello 0 0-0 0, Williams 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 10-17 61.

3-point FGs: Dovciak, Figueroa, Kringe, Zack, G. Renn 2, Scicchitano

JV Score: MMI 30-24

Lincoln Leadership 59, Tamaqua 54

TAMAQUA — Jakin Tamagini scored a game-high 22 points, knocking down four 3-pointers, as Tamaqua battled in non-league loss to Lincoln Leadership.

Terrence McDowell added 10 points as the Blue Raiders stayed within reach late in the game.

LINCOLN LEADERSHIP (59) — Velez 2 0-0 6, Baker 8 4-6 25, Forbes 1 6-8 8, Parker 1 0-2 2, Lockhart 1 1-2 3, Henegan 3 2-4 9, Middleton 0 0-0 0, Young 2 2-2 6. Total 18 14-24 59.

TAMAQUA (54) — McDowell 4 0-0 10, Edmonds 2 1-2 7, Schickram 2 3-4 11, Shannon 0 0-0 0, Frohnheiser 1 0-0 2, Makovec 1 0-0 2, Tamagini 9 0-1 22, Broadway 0 0-0 0. Total 20 4-7 54.

3-point FGs: Baker 5, Velez 2, Henegan, Tamagini 4, McDowell 2, Edmonds 2, Schickram 2.

JV Score: Tamaqua 57-54

Upper Dauphin 56, Shenandoah Valley 48

ELIZABETHVILLE — Izayah Lopez poured in a game-high 25 points to lead Shenandoah Valley offensively, but the Blue Devils fell to Upper Dauphin in non-league action.

Brandon Hernandez added 12 points for Shenandoah Valley, which carried a 27-21 lead into halftime.

Upper Dauphin responded with a strong offensive second half, flipping the momentum after the break to pull away late.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY (48) — Reyes 0 0-0 0, Rivera 0 1-2 1, Nunez 0 0-0 0, Gonzalez 0 0-0 0, Burrous 2 0-2 5, Lopez 10 3-3 25, B. Hernandez 5 0-0 12, Christopher 0 0-0 0, Bench 2 0-0 5, Pagan 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 4-7 48.

UPPER DAUPHIN (56) — Barge 3 8-10 15, Weaver 6 3-8 21, McClain 2 0-0 4, Fernandez 0 0-0 0, Foraker 2 1-2 5, Wertz 1 0-0 2, Savage 0 1-2 1, Heim 3 2-5 8. Totals 17 15-27 56.

3-point FGs: Burrous, Lopez 2, B. Hernandez 2, Bench, Barge, Weaver 3

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Panther Valley 57, Pleasant Valley 28

LANSFORD — Morgan Orsulak dominated the opposing Bears, scoring 28 points as Panther Valley captured a non-league win.

Orsulak had 14 points in the first half as the Panthers built a 31-13 halftime lead. She added 12 more in the third quarter as Panther Valley pulled away. Caroline Breslin added 12 points for the Panthers.

PLEASANT VALLEY (28) — Rothrock 1 0-0 2, Cappaletti 2 0-0 4, Merklin 1 0-0 2, Knapp 0 1-2 1, Krasniqi 0 0-0 0, Shillady 1 0-0 2, Allie 1 0-0 2, Hower 2 2-2 6, A. Fuentes 0 0-0 0, K. Fuentes 1 2-3 3, DeRohn 0 0-0 0, Wolff 2 2-2 6. Totals 11 6-8 28.

PANTHER VALLEY (57) — Gjoca 0 0-0 0, Kocha 1 1-2 3, K. Breslin 0 0-0 0, O’Brien 0 0-0 0, Rolon 0 0-0 0, Aponte 2 2-4 6, Blazosky 3 2-2 8, C. Breslin 4 2-3 12, Prudente 0 0-0 0, Alabovitz 0 0-0 0, Orsulak 11 6-8 28, Goida 0 0-0 0, Carrasquillo 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 13-19 57.

3-point FGs: C. Breslin 2

JV Score: Panther Valley 29-28

Pine Grove 51, Tulpehocken 11

PINE GROVE — Hollyn Sampson poured in a game-high 22 points as the Cardinals cruised past the Trojans in a non-league game.

Sampson had 14 of her points in the first quarter, helping Pine Grove open the game on a 24-4 run.

TULPEHOCKEN (11) — Ka. Kempe 1 0-0 2, Weaver 1 0-0 2, K. Kempe 1 0-0 2, Setlock 0 0-0 0, Torres 0 0-0 0, Glass 0 0-0 0, Erkenrode 0 0-0 0, Merceal 0 0-2 0, Goldburg 2 0-0 5. Totals 5 0-2 11.

PINE GROVE (51) — Gehres 0 0-0 0, K. Umbenhauer 1 0-0 2, Leffler 4 1-1 9, M. Umbenhauer 0 2-2 2, Heming 1 1-2 3, Reichert 3 0-0 6, Brown 0 0-0 0, Verdensky 1 0-0 2, Fidler 2 0-0 5, Sampson 11 0-0 22. Totals 23 4-5 51.

3-point FGs: Goldburg, Fidler

Officials: Merwine, Shober, Erie

Tri-Valley 39, Halifax 33

HEGINS — Avery Miller capped a monster week by scoring 23 points as the Dawgs outlasted the Wildcats in a non-league game.

Miller scored 91 points on the week. She had 15 points in the second half Saturday as Tri-Valley broke free from a 15-15 halftime tie. Ava Snyder added nine points and 13 rebounds for the Dawgs.

HALIFAX (33) — Thomas 1 0-0 2, Roland 2 0-2 5, Sharbaugh 8 0-2 19, Weaver 0 0-0 0, Nace 1 0-0 2, Strum 0 0-0 0, Wirrick 0 0-0 0, Gruzlewski 2 0-0 5, Mcquire 0 0-2 0. Totals 14 0-6 33.

TRI-VALLEY (39) — A. Miller 7 7-10 23, G. Miller 0-0-0, Sitlinger 1 0-0 2, Sankas 2 0-0 4, Dietrich 0 0-0 0, Snyder 3 3-8 9, Hanlon 0 1-2 1. Totals 13 11-20 39.

3-point FGs: Roland, Sharbaugh 3, Gruzlewski, A. Miller 2

Emmaus 61, Blue Mountain 26

EMMAUS — Callie Peel scored eight points and Mila Fleagle tallied seven as the Eagles dropped a non-league road game to District 11 Class 6A power Emmaus.

BLUE MOUNTAIN (26) — Hudock 0 0-0 0, Fleagle 2 3-8 7, Canfield 1 0-0 2, Place 0 0-0 0, Peel 3 2-4 8, Koch 0 1-4 1, McKee 0 0-0 0, Leonard 1 0-0 3, Walborn 2 0-0 5, Easter 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 6-16 26.

EMMAUS (61) — Whitney 0 2-2 2, Grochowski 3 0-0 7, Haberl 1 2-2 5, Glover 1 0-2 2, Devita 5 4-4 17, Harp 0 0-0 0, Ervin 3 0-1 7, McGinnis 0 0-0 0, Shutkuski 1 0-0 3, Stevens 4 4-4 12, East 1 0-0 3, Tranguch 1 0-0 3, Kelly 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 12-15 61.

3-point FGs: Leonard, Walborn, Grochowski, Haberl, Devita 3, Ervin, Shutkuski, East, Tranguch

Officials: Banchoff

JV Score: Emmaus 48-23

HS Football: Nativity’s Mason, Marian’s O’Gurek named to PSFCA all-star coaching staffs

HS Boys’ Wrestling: Bears’ Quick takes 3rd at Mayhem

HS Diving: Eagles’ White, Tide’s Klinger capture crowns at Schuylkill League Diving Invitational