Litzy Salguero, Shenandoah Valley girls' basketball

SHENANDOAH — In her preseason outlook, Shenandoah Valley girls’ basketball coach Laura Bradley expressed her excitement for the upcoming season.

“We will be competitive this year,” Bradley said. “Our team looks a bit different than seasons prior.

“We have a lot more speed and team chemistry. Looking to be one of the top defensive teams in the division.”

Over the past two weeks, Bradley’s Blue Devils have certainly lived up to their coach’s expectations.

One of the hottest teams in the Schuylkill League at the moment, Shenandoah Valley notched its fourth straight victory and 10th win of the season Saturday with a 38-35, non-league win over Minersville.

Litzy Salguero paced a balanced attack with 10 points as the Blue Devils used a 13-4, second-quarter spurt to build a 19-10 halftime cushion, then held off a spirited Minersville comeback in the fourth quarter to grab the victory.

Aubrie Monaghan added nine points, while Jocelyn Chagolla had seven and Gianna Troutman and Gianna Donovan each tallied six.

In a span of 10 days, Shenandoah Valley has beaten Williams Valley, Tri-Valley, Weatherly and Minersville while fielding a roster of just six girls. The win streak has moved the Devils into a tie for third place in the Schuylkill League Division II standings and has Shenandoah Valley solidily entrenched in the fourth spot in the District 11 Class AA playoff race.

Sara McGrath led all scorers with 13 points for Minersville.

MINERSVILLE (35) — Brennan 0 2-2 2, Ladick 0 0-0 0, Cullen 3 2-4 8, Boom 1 3-4 6, Cruz 0 0-0 0, McGrath 5 0-0 13, Ilsley 3 0-0 6. Totals 12 7-10 35.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY (38) — Troutman 3 0-3 6, La. Salguero 0 0-0 0, Donovan 1 4-9 6, Chagolla 2 3-6 7, Monaghan 3 1-2 9, Li. Salguero 4 2-2 10. Totals 13 10-22 38.

3-point FGs: Boom, Ilsley 3, Monaghan 2

Officials: Je. Misstishin, Shinkus

JV Score: No game

Mahanoy Area 63, Jim Thorpe 28

JIM THORPE — Felicia Bro and Ella Connolly each scored 22 points as the Golden Bears raced past the Olympians in a non-league game.

Bro scored 20 points in the first half as Mahanoy Area led 47-20 at halftime. Connolly scored 15 points in the first two frames and then added seven more in the third.

MAHANOY AREA (63) — Haughney 1 2-2 4, Manley 0 0-0 0, Wonsock 0 0-0 0, Zubris 0 0-0 0, Christian 1 1-2 3, Bro 7 4-6 22, Carl 1 0-0 3, Kowalick 3 0-0 7, Collado 1 0-0 2, Connolly 9 4-10 22. Totals 23 11-21 63.

JIM THORPE (28) — Lees 2 0-0 5, Yuhas 2 1-4 5, Scherer 0 0-2 0, Snisky 3 8-12 15, Wolf 0 0-0 0, Garritano 1 0-0 2, Strohl 0 1-2 1. Totals 8 10-20 28.

3-point FGs: Bro 4, Carl, Kowalick, Lees, Snisky

Lehighton 51, Tamaqua 40

TAMAQUA — Lauren Ligenza recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds but the Blue Raiders dropped a non-league game to the Indians at the Tamaqua Athletic Center.

In a potential District 11 Class 4A playoff matchup, Lehighton used a 16-7, third-quarter run to take control. Leah Uyvari led all scorers with 20 points, while Leah Black added seven points and 10 rebounds for Tamaqua.

LEHIGHTON (51) — Arzuaga 0 0-0 0, O. Serfass 2 2-4 6, Reph 0 0-0 0, Uyvari 7 4-5 20, Trotman 3 2-3 8, S. Serfass 0 0-0 0, A. Serfass 2 3-4 8, Parliman 4 0-4 9. Totals 18 11-20 51.

TAMAQUA (40) — M. Black 3 2-4 8, Ellington 0 0-0 0, Bamford 1 0-0 2, Ligenza 6 5-6 17, Coleman 2 0-0 6, Conahan 0 0-0 0, L. Black 2 3-6 7, Gormley 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 10-14 40.

3-point FGs: Uyvari 2, A. Serfass, Parliman, Coleman 2

Officials: Check, Golas, Wartman

JV Score: Lehighton 45-38

Weatherly 31, MMI Prep 12

FREELAND — Alexia Kehler scored six of her game-high 12 points in a 16-6, third-quarter run as the Wreckers rolled past the Preppers in a non-league contest.

Weatherly held MMI to just two points in the first half.

WEATHERLY (31) — Marasco 0 0-0 0, Russell 0 0-0 0, Kane 2 1-2 6, Kehler 5 2-2 12, Way-Heffner 1 0-0 2, Weston 2 0-0 5, Gerhard 1 0-0 2, Snyder 2 0-0 4. Totals 13 3-4 31.

MMI PREP (12) — Drobnock 3 1-2 9, Serrano 1 1-2 3, Abdulrahman 0 0-0 0, Schultz 0 0-0 0, Mooney 0 0-0 0, Washko 0 0-0 0. Totals 4 2-4 12.

3-point FGs: Kane, Weston, Drobnock 2

Lehigh Valley Academy 46, Nativity 28

POTTSVILLE — Emmalee Pinkey scored a game-high 15 points and Macie Rushannon added 11 as the Golden Girls dropped a non-league game to Lehigh Valley Regional Academy Charter atop Lawton’s Hill.

Lehigh Valley used a 14-4 run in the third quarter to expand a 23-15 halftime lead.

LEHIGH VALLEY REGIONAL ACADEMY (46) — Little 3 1-2 7, Murphy 0 0-2 0, Gillmeyer 4 0-0 11, Stone 2 0-0 4, Buzzi 3 0-1 6, Patel 2 1-2 5, Hothowe 6 1-6 13. Totals 20 3-13 46.

NATIVITY (28) — Lorence 0 0-0 0, Pinkey 6 2-2 15, Zulick 0 0-0 0, Rushannon 4 1-2 11, McNamara 1 0-0 2, Purcell 0 0-0 0, Stewart 0 0-0 0, Evans 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 3-4 28.

3-point FGs: Gillmeyer, Pinkey, Rushannon

Officials: Wood, Shober, Leedy

JV Score: Lehigh Valley 30-26

North Schuylkill 44, Pittston Area 36

PITTSTON — The Spartans won their fifth straight game and improved to 12-4 overall with a non-league win over the Patriots. No other details were available.

ELCO 44, Blue Mountain 35

ORWIGSBURG — Mila Fleagle scored a team-high 13 points and Hailey Place added 10 as the Eagles dropped a non-league game to the Raiders.

Kenzie Eckhart scored 16 of her game-high 28 points in the final two quarters for ELCO, which outscored Blue Mountain 26-18 in the second half and grab the victory.

ELCO (44) — Newswanger 0 0-0 0 Eckhart 10 8-9 28, Bennethum 0 0-0 0, Beck 0 2-2 2, Seifert 3 0-0 7, Mays 2 0-0 4, Ruth 0 0-0 0, Daniels 1 0-0 3. Totals 16 10-11 44.

BLUE MOUNTAIN (35) — Fleagle 4 5-7 13, Canfield 0 0-0 0, Place 1 8-12 10, Peel 0 3-4 3, Koch 1 5-8 7, Leonard 0 0-0 0, Walborn 1 0-0 2. Totals 7 21-31 35.

3-point FGs: Seifert, Daniels

Officials: Rossino, Karinch, K. Dean

JV Score: Blue Mountain 47-24