Pottsville's Christian Alvarez (11) guards Blue Mountain's Sean Gaddy (33) during a Schuylkill League Division I boys' basketball matchup at Martz Hall (Photo by Eli Doyle).

POTTSVILLE — The fans received a Schuylkill League playoff appetizer Tuesday night.

Christian Alvarez exploded for a season-high and game-high 33 points as Pottsville defeated Blue Mountain 67-60 in a fast-paced, physical Schuylkill League Division I boys’ basketball game at Martz Hall.

“He was truly unbelievable,” Pottsville coach Tyler Heffner said of Alvarez’s performance. “He continues to step his game up and keeps becoming more and more of a leader. Anytime we need him, he cuts to the basket and makes plays. He’s really steady. He’s never up or down, and I think our team reflects that.”

Blue Mountain (9-6, 5-3 D-I) came out swinging, ripping off an 8-0 run off the opening tip as Evan Setlock and Tyierre Meade each connected from beyond the arc.

Pottsville (12-3, 8-0) responded quickly and kept it close by the end of the first quarter, with the Eagles holding a 17-13 edge.

“(Blue Mountain) is really physical. They have some big kids,” Heffner said. “Defensively, they do a great job of keeping people in front. They rebound really well, which is something we struggled with in both games.”

Chris Hobbs sparked the Crimson Tide in the second quarter, scoring five points on an inside bucket and a 3-pointer from the top of the key to put Pottsville ahead 18-17 with 6:26 left in the period.

But pesky Blue Mountain answered once again and proved it was in it for the long haul.

Cohen Werner, Beck Henninger and Caden Wargo each splashed 3-pointers as the Eagles reclaimed the lead and carried a slim 31-30 advantage into halftime.

The intensity only ramped up after the break.

Cohen Kirby opened the third quarter with an inside bucket for the Eagles before Alvarez tied the game at 33-33 with an and-one finish, setting the tone for what became a slobberknocker of a frame.

Henninger and Ryder Bowers traded 3-pointers, and Meade highlighted the quarter with a circus layup as Blue Mountain clung to a 44-42 edge heading into the fourth.

Alvarez wasted no time swinging momentum.

The senior forward buried a deep 3-pointer to open the final quarter, then followed with another and-one as Pottsville surged ahead.

Defensive ace JuJu Bainbridge drew a charge on one end before slashing to the basket for a layup on the other, capping an 8-0 run to start the fourth and forcing a Blue Mountain timeout with 5:04 remaining.

Bainbridge missed the first matchup with the Eagles due to a leg injury suffered during the fall sports season.

“He’s played through a lot of pain and injury,” Heffner said of Bainbridge. “I thought he did a really good job tonight. He brings incredible toughness.

“It’s unbelievable — it’s like every day he’s playing through pain, and I know he is, even if he won’t admit it. He’s worked so hard to get back here. I think he was frustrated at times with how slow it progressed. I don’t even think he was supposed to be back until around this time originally. It’s really a credit to him. He’s an unbelievable kid and leader.”

Like a true heavyweight contender, the Eagles refused to fold.

Meade poured in nine points in the fourth quarter before foul trouble caught up to Blue Mountain. The Eagles lost Werner and key starter Sean Gaddy to fouls with minutes remaining.

Pottsville sealed the win at the free-throw line, shooting a blistering 16-for-17 from the stripe in the fourth quarter alone. Alvarez was a perfect 9-for-9 at the line in the frame and finished 10-for-10 overall as the Crimson Tide went 19-for-24 (79 percent) at the foul line for the game to remain unbeaten in league action.

Meade finished with a team-high 26 points and Kirby added nine for the Blue Mountain.

“We have to get better at things,” Heffner said. “We have to get better defensively. I don’t think we were too great at that tonight. We have to keep finding ways to get other players to score and just keep trusting what we do. We’re a really good, mentally tough team. They believe in each other, and I believe in them.”

Josh Kimber chipped in 10 key points for Pottsville, while Hobbs finished with nine.

The Crimson Tide swept the two head-to-head league matchups in the regular season, but the Eagles and Pottsville could be destined to meet again in either the Schuylkill League playoff tournament or the District 11 Class 5A bracket.

Game Summary

Pottsville 67, Blue Mountain 60

At Martz Hall

BLUE MOUNTAIN (60) — Meade 10 4-7 26, Setlock 3 0-0 7, Kirby 4 1-3 9, Werner 2 0-0 5, Henninger 2 0-0 6, Wargo 1 0-0 3, Gaddy 2 0-0 4. Totals 24 5-10 60.

POTTSVILLE (67) — Hobbs 3 1-2 9, McGinley 0 0-0 0, Allen 0 1-2 1, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 2 0-0 4, Alvarez 10 10-10 33, Bowers 2 0-0 6, Kunstek 1 0-0 2, Clews 0 2-2 2, Kimber 2 5-6 10, Viars 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 19-24 67.

3-point FGs: Meade 2, Setlock, Werner, Henninger 2, Wargo, Hobbs 2, Alvarez 3, Bowers 2, Kimber

Officials: Litwhiler, Melusky, Houser

JV Score: Tie 37-37