HS Hoops Roundup: Spartans clip Tide, Eagles roll, Miners keep pace
Julian Nelson, North Schuylkill boys' basketball
FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — North Schuylkill leaned on balance, toughness and just enough late execution.
The Spartans placed a trio of players in double figures and built an early cushion before holding off multiple Pottsville pushes down the stretch to slip past the Crimson Tide in a tightly contested Schuylkill League Division I battle Friday at the Cesari-Hope Gymnasium.
Xavier McNally led North Schuylkill with 13 points, while Jude Maziekas and Julian Nelson added 10 apiece. Dylan Cairo and Logan Damiter also chipped in timely baskets as the Spartans found different answers throughout the night.
Pottsville was led by Christian Alvarez, who finished with a game-high 22 points and consistently attacked the rim to keep the Crimson Tide within striking distance. Ryder Bowers added 13 points, but Pottsville struggled to convert enough opportunities late to complete the comeback.
The victory kept the Spartans (11-7, 6-5) firmly in the Division I playoff hunt at No. 4 in the standings, trailing No. 3 Blue Mountain (11-7, 7-4). Pottsville (13-5, 9-2) slipped to No. 2, while Minersville (17-1, 10-1) remains alone atop the league. The top three teams in Division I and Division II will advance to the league playoff tournament.
The loss also marked a rare skid for Pottsville, which dropped back-to-back league games for the first time since the 2022-23 season. The Crimson Tide last suffered consecutive league losses on Feb. 3, 2023, against Blue Mountain 65-50, followed by a Feb. 7, 2023, loss to North Schuylkill 51-46.
For the Spartans, the victory carried postseason implications. With the win, North Schuylkill officially secured a spot in the District 11 Class 4A playoff tournament.
POTTSVILLE (50) — Hobbs 1 1-2 3, McGinley 1 1-2 4, Allen 0 0-0 0, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Leskin 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 6 9-12 22, Bowers 4 3-3 13, Kunstek 3 0-0 6, Clews 1 0-0 2, Kimber 0 0-2 0. Totals 16 14-23 50.
NORTH SCHUYLKILL (52) — Cairo 1 0-0 3, Damiter 2 0-0 5, Maziekas 4 0-0 10, Mengel 0 2-2 2, Kacilowicz 2 0-2 5, Nelson 5 0-1 10, McNally 5 3-6 13, Cabral 1 1-2 4, Gallagher 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 6-13 52.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Po (13-5, 9-2) | 7 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 50 |
| NS (11-7, 6-5) | 12 | 18 | 8 | 14 | 52 |
3-point FGs: McGinley, Alvarez, Bowers 2, Cairo, Damiter, Maziekas 2, Kacilowicz, Cabral
Officials: Marquardt, Pincin, Litwhiler
JV Score: Pottsville 49-38
Blue Mountain 72, Panther Valley 44
LANSFORD — Tyierre Meade poured in 22 points and Cohen Werner added 20 as Blue Mountain pulled away from Panther Valley with a decisive third quarter in a Division I game.
The Eagles outscored the Panthers 26-17 in the third to turn a tight contest into a comfortable win. Beck Henninger chipped in 11 and Cohen Kirby added nine for Blue Mountain.
Brody Breiner netted a team-high 13 points for the Panthers.
BLUE MOUNTAIN (72) — Meade 10 2-2 22, Setlock 2 2-2 6, Kirby 3 2-2 9, Pritiskutch 0 0-0 0, DiSante 0 0-0 0, Singh 0 0-0 0, Werner 8 2-3 20, Henninger 3 2-2 11, McDonough 0 0-0 0, Wargo 1 0-0 2, Schuster 0 0-0 0, Gaddy 0 2-2 2. Totals 17 12-13 72.
PANTHER VALLEY (44) — Moyer 1 2-2 4, Crampsie 1 0-0 3, Vermillion 0 0-0 0, McArdle 2 0-0 5, Breiner 6 0-0 13, Mitchell 1 0-0 2, Gjoca 0 0-0 0, Revell 0 2-5 2, Wehr 1 2-5 4, Baneravage 1 0-0 3, Munoz 0 0-2 0, Thomas 2 0-0 4, Maynard 0 0-0 0, Williams 2 0-2 4. Totals 19 6-16 44.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BM (11-7, 7-4) | 19 | 18 | 26 | 9 | 72 |
| PV (7-11, 2-9) | 13 | 3 | 17 | 11 | 44 |
3-point FGs: Kirby, Werner 2, Henninger 3, Crampsie, McArdle, Breiner, Baneravage
JV Score: Blue Mountain 54-43
Minersville 70, Mahanoy Area 45
MAHANOY AREA — Minersville continued its strong league run with a convincing road win over Mahanoy Area.
Shazier Bethea led the way with 21 points, while Cam Rogers and Jordan Bowers added 14 and 17, respectively. The Battlin’ Miners broke the game open with a 24-point third quarter.
Mahanoy Area was led by Connor Bowman and Cam Smith with 11 points apiece. Ryan Zilker added eight for the Golden Bears.
MINERSVILLE (70) — Adams 0 0-0 0, Rogers 6 1-1 14, Zimerofsky 3 2-4 9, Fessler 0 1-2 1, Bethea 9 3-3 21, McGrath 0 0-0 0, Seddon 0 0-0 0, Pepin 0 0-0 0, Toth 1 0-0 2, Bowers 6 2-2 17, Mealey 0 0-0 0, Plesnarski 2 0-0 6. Totals 27 9-12 70.
MAHANOY AREA (45) — Gallagher 0 0-0 0, Bowman 4 1-2 11, Perez 2 0-0 5, Dicasimirro 0 0-0 0, Cendeno 3 0-0 6, Smith 4 0-0 11, Contreras 0 0-0 0, Byrne 0 0-0 0, Kowalchick 2 0-0 4, Zilker 3 2-3 8. Totals 18 3-5 45.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min (17-1, 11-1) | 11 | 18 | 24 | 17 | 70 |
| Mah (6-11, 4-7) | 8 | 9 | 16 | 13 | 45 |
3-point FGs: Rogers, Zimerofsky, Bowers 3, Plesnarski 2, Bowman 2, Perez, Smith 3
Officials: Pammer, Melusky, Burke
JV Score: Mahanoy Area 35-31
Tamaqua 73, Pine Grove 64
PINE GROVE — Tamaqua lived at the foul line and made it count, converting 38 free throws to secure a Division I victory over Pine Grove.
Gavin Edmonds finished with 20 points and Jakin Tamagini added 13 as the Blue Raiders erased an early deficit and steadily pulled away. Brady McCabe collected 10 points and Ace Schickram added nine for Tamaqua.
Pine Grove got 22 points from both Dane Hannevig and Hayden Felty but couldn’t keep pace late.
TAMAQUA (73) — McDowell 0 0-0 0, McCabe 2 6-9 10, Edmonds 4 10-13 20, Schickram 3 1-4 9, Shannon 0 5-6 5, Frohnheiser 1 3-5 5, Makovec 1 2-6 4, Tamagini 2 8-11 13, Broadway 2 3-7 7. Totals 15 38-60 73.
PINE GROVE (64) — Hitz 0 0-0 0, Smeltz 0 0-0 0, Fairell 3 0-0 7, Hannevig 7 6-12 22, Kimmel 0 2-2 2, Witmer 1 0-0 3, Schneck-Haines 1 0-0 2, Shanahan 0 2-3 2, Herber 0 2-4 2, Felty 6 8-13 22, Kolb 0 0-0 0, Snyder 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 19-34 64.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tam (3-14, 3-8) | 15 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 73 |
| PG (7-13, 3-9) | 7 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 64 |
3-point FGs: Edmonds 2, Schickram 2, Tamagini, Hannevig 2, Felty 2, Fairell, Witmer
Marian 50, Lourdes 44
HOMETOWN — Marian used a strong second half to fend off Lourdes in Schuylkill League Division II action.
Justin De La Cruz and Jimmy Cannon each scored 10 points, while Gregory Tirpak added eight and Jacob De La Cruz contributed seven as the Colts held off the Red Raiders.
Lourdes was led by Brighton Scicchitano’s 20 points.
LOURDES (44) — Renn 2 0-0 5, Scicchitano 8 1-2 20, B. Rishel 3 0-0 6, J. Rishel 2 0-0 4, Moore 3 0-0 9. Totals 18 1-2 44.
MARIAN (50) — Shigo 0 1-2 1, Tom 3 0-2 6, Nunez 1 0-0 2, Ju. De La Cruz 4 1-2 10, Ja. De La Cruz 3 0-0 7, Acosta 1 0-2 2, Tirpak 3 0-0 8, Knock 2 0-0 4, Cannon 5 0-0 10. Totals 22 2-8 50.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lou (7-10, 4-7) | 9 | 10 | 8 | 17 | 44 |
| Mar (8-9, 5-6) | 9 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 50 |
3-point FGs: Renn, Scicchitano 3, Moore 3, Ju. De La Cruz, Ja. De La Cruz, Tirpak 2
Officials: Rizzo, Scheeler, Senunas
JV Score: Lourdes 41-28
Weatherly 94, Shenandoah Valley 69
WEATHERLY — Weatherly turned the game into a track meet and never slowed down in a Division II win over Shenandoah Valley.
Ian McKeegan netted a team-high 26 points and Corbin Wagner added 24 as the Wreckers rolled. Dom Kokinda poured in 12 points, Brandon Davis collected 12 and Matt Adler had nine as Weatherly spread the scoring around.
Shenandoah Valley was paced by David Burrous’ game-high 28 points. Isayah Lopez added 11.
SHENANDOAH VALLEY (69) — Reyes 1 0-0 2, Rivera 3 0-0 6, Nunez 1 0-0 2, Gonzalez 0 0-0 0, Burrous 10 3-4 28, Lopez 5 0-0 11, Hernandez 1 0-2 2, Christopher 1 2-2 4, Bench 6 1-2 14, Pagan 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 6-10 69.
WEATHERLY (94) — Adler 4 0-0 9, Kokinda 5 2-5 12, I. McKeegan 10 4-5 26, Cuddeford 0 0-0 0, J. McKeegan 0 0-0 0, Hinkle 0 0-0 0, Saldukas 5 0-0 11, Davis 5 2-2 12, Wagner 11 0-0 24. Totals 40 8-12 94.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SV (2-16, 0-11) | 9 | 15 | 22 | 23 | 69 |
| Wea (10-6, 5-6) | 22 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 94 |
3-point FGs: Burrous 5, Lopez, Bench, Adler, I. McKeegan 2, Saldukas, Wagner 2
Officials: Scarcella, Shinkus, Gerald Misstishin
JV Score: Shenandoah Valley 45-41
Annville-Cleona 46, Williams Valley 38
ANNVILLE — Gabe Rodriguez netted a team-high 19 points as Williams Valley fell to Annville-Cleona in a non-league game.
Evan Achenbach added 11 points for the Vikings (8-9), who host Schuylkill Haven in a Schuylkill League Division II game Today at 1:30 p.m. Check back for a full box score soon.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Schuylkill Haven 61, Pen Argyl 30
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Schuylkill Haven cruised to a convincing non-league victory over Pen Argyl behind a balanced scoring effort.
McKenna Runkle led the Hurricanes with 21 points, while Audrey Hutchinson added 16. Kylie Siket poured in 12 points and Ava Terefencko collected nine.
PEN ARGYL (30) — Martiri 3 2-3 9, Sous 0 0-0 0, Garcia 1 1-2 3, Scherer 1 0-0 3, Apostol 3 1-1 7, Stocker 3 1-1 7, Gloth 3 1-3 9, Transue 0 0-0 0, Dessenick 0 0-0 0, Wilgus 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 5-9 30.
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN (61) — Hutchinson 5 4-4 16, Siket 5 0-2 12, Runkle 8 4-7 21, Terefencko 3 2-4 9, Strenkoski 0 0-0 0, Wade 0 0-0 0, Farrell 0 0-0 0, Houvig 0 0-0 0, Benedict 0 0-0 0, Brand 1 0-0 3, Kovaleski 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 10-17 61.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA () | 4 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 30 |
| SH (15-4) | 17 | 16 | 20 | 8 | 61 |
3-point FGs: Martiri, Gloth 2, Hutchinson 2, Siket 2, Runkle, Terefencko, Brand
Officials: Karinch, Noonan, Tone
Saucon Valley 36, Pottsville 35
POTTSVILLE — Saucon Valley edged Pottsville in a tightly contested non-league battle at Martz Hall.
Jes Siminitus netted a game-high 18 points, but the Crimson Tide came up just short in the closing seconds. Myla Fegley added seven points and Megan Goodman chipped in six for Pottsville.
SAUCON VALLEY (36) — Bonus 0 0-0 0, Donahue 3 4-7 11, Skade 3 2-4 10, Schiegal 3 1-2 7, Gorman 3 2-4 8. Totals 12 9-17 36.
POTTSVILLE (35) — Barnhart 0 0-0 0, Fegley 2 1-2 7, Siminitus 7 4-8 18, Goodman 2 1-3 6, Brennan 1 0-0 2, Ciavarella 0 0-0 0, Huda 1 0-2 2. Totals 13 6-15 35.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SV () | 4 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 36 |
| Po (5-12) | 11 | 4 | 11 | 9 | 35 |
