Minersville's Jordan Bowers (Photo by Kelly Wiley).

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — Shazier Bethea and Jordan Bowers have become quite the tandem.

Bethea and Bowers set the tone and each finished more than 20 points as they led Minersville to a 65-56 Schuylkill League Division I victory over North Schuylkill Friday at the Cesari-Hope Gymnasium.

Bethea finished with a game-high 22 points and Bowers added 21 as the Battlin’ Miners built an early cushion and never relinquished it. Minersville jumped out to an 18-6 lead after one quarter and led 36-19 at halftime before the Spartans made a push in the third.

North Schuylkill was sparked by Xavier McNally, who scored 18 points, while Julian Nelson collected eight and Max Gallagher chipped in seven. The Spartans outscored Minersville 22-18 in the third quarter but couldn’t put it all together late.

Cam Rogers knocked down three 3-pointers for Minersville, while Bethea and Bowers combined for five triples as the Miners continued their strong league run.

MINERSVILLE (65) — Adams 0 0-0 0, Rogers 3 1-2 10, Zimerofsky 4 0-0 9, Fessler 0 0-0 0, Bethea 6 8-12 22, Bowers 8 2-3 21, Mealey 0 0-0 0, Plesnarski 1 0-0 3. Totals 22 11-17 65.

NORTH SCHUYLKILL (56) — Cairo 0 0-0 0, Damiter 0 0-0 0, Maziekas 3 0-0 6, Mengel 0 1-1 1, Kacilowicz 2 0-0 4, Marcinowski 0 0-0 0, Bani 1 1-1 3, Nelson 2 4-5 8, McNally 8 2-5 18, Cabral 2 2-4 6, Gallagher 3 0-0 7, Osenbach 1 0-0 3. Totals 22 9-15 56.

3-point FGs: Rogers 3, Zimerofsky, Bethea 2, Bowers 3, Plesnarski, Nelson, Gallagher, Osenbach

Officials: Wojciechowsky, J. Dean, Burke

Pottsville 69, Mahanoy Area 25

PINE GROVE — Pottsville used a dominant second quarter to break the game open and cruise past Mahanoy Area in convincing fashion in a Division I contest.

The Crimson Tide outscored Mahanoy Area 32-6 in the second quarter, turning a modest early lead into a commanding halftime advantage. Davey Kunstek led the way with 15 points, while Ryder Bowers added 14 and Christian Alvarez chipped in nine. The win also snaps a three-game losing skid for Pottsville.

Connor Bowman paced the Golden Bears with eight points.

POTTSVILLE (69) — Killians 0 0-0 0, Hobbs 1 0-0 2, McGinley 1 0-0 3, Allen 0 2-2 2, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 2 1-1 5, Leskin 2 0-0 5, Alvarez 2 5-6 9, Baker 1 2-2 4, Bowers 5 0-1 14, Eroh 0 0-0 0, Kunstek 7 1-1 15, Kimber 2 0-0 4, Clews 1 0-0 2, Frantz 0 0-0 0, Viars 2 0-0 4, Oswald 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 9-13 69.

MAHANOY AREA (25) — Gallagher 0 1-1 1, Bowman 3 0-0 8, Perez 2 0-0 5, Wagner 1 0-0 2, Dicasimirro 0 0-0 0, Lebby 0 0-0 0, Smith 0 0-0 0, Contreras 0 0-0 0, Corona 0 0-0 0, Ramos 1 0-0 2, Byrne 1 0-0 2, Kowalchick 0 0-0 0, Zilker 1 3-7 5. Totals 9 4-8 25.

3-point FGs: McGinley, Leskin, Bowers 4, Bowman 2, Perez

Officials: Scott, James Misstishin, Cooper

JV Score: Pottsville 53-42

Blue Mountain 64, Pine Grove 47

PINE GROVE — Tyierre Meade poured in a game-high 24 points and Cohen Kirby added 10 as Blue Mountain flipped a two-point halftime deficit into a double-digit Division I win over Pine Grove.

The Eagles outscored Pine Grove 19-9 in the third quarter, using an 11-0 to seize momentum. Cohen Werner collected 12 points for Blue Mountain, while Cohen Kirby added 10.

Dane Hannevig led Pine Grove with 19 points.

BLUE MOUNTAIN (64) — Meade 9 5-7 24, Setlock 0 2-2 2, Kirby 4 2-2 10, DiSante 0 0-0 0, Werner 6 0-3 12, Henninger 2 2-2 7, Wargo 1 0-0 2, Gaddy 2 3-3 7. Totals 24 14-19 64.

PINE GROVE (47) — Fairell 0 0-0 0, Hannevig 7 4-6 19, Witmer 0 0-0 0, Schneck-Haines 2 0-0 5, Herber 1 0-0 2, Felty 4 1-2 9, Kolb 2 1-1 5, Snyder 1 1-3 3. Totals 19 7-12 47.

3-point FGs: Meade, Henninger, Hannevig, Schneck-Haines

Officials: Shober, Gerchak, Melusky

Schuylkill Haven 71, Lourdes 38

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Schuylkill Haven turned in one of its most complete performances of the season, overwhelming Lourdes from start to finish in Division II action to clinch a Schuylkill League Playoff spot.

Justin Watcher erupted for a game-high 33 points as the Hurricanes steadily widened the gap each quarter. Haven led 32-11 at halftime and continued to apply pressure defensively, holding Lourdes to just eight points in the fourth.

Alan Evans added 13 points, while Max Heim chipped in 12 as the rebounded back-breaking loss to Shenandoah Valley on Wednesday.

LOURDES (38) — Scicchitano 3 2-5 8, Renn 3 6-6 12, B. Rishel 3 0-4 6, Moore 3 0-0 8, J. Rishel 2 0-4 4, Williams 0 0-0 0, Sheganoski 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 8-19 38.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN (71) — Evans 4 3-4 13, Diehl 1 0-0 3, Kelly 1 0-0 2, Watcher 13 5-5 33, Heim 6 0-2 12, Lucas 0 0-0 0, Tracey 0 0-0 0, Shafe 0 0-0 0, Hinnersnitz 0 0-0 0, Shappell 0 2-2 2. Totals 28 10-14 71.

3-point FGs: Moore 2, Evans 2, Diehl, Watcher 2

Officials: Pammer, Marquardt

JV Score: Schuylkill Haven 37-32

Nativity 62, Shenandoah Valley 39

POTTSVILLE — Trey Keating scored 27 points, including three 3-pointers, as Nativity rolled past Shenandoah Valley in a Division II game.

Nick Clarke added 13 points for the Hilltoppers. After a competitive first half, Nativity outscored the Blue Devils 25-16 in the third quarter to gain separation.

Shenandoah Valley was paced by David Burrous with 10 points.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY (62) — Reyes 0 0-0 0, Rivera 2 0-0 4, Nunez 0 0-0 0, Gonzalez 0 1-2 1, Burrous 4 1-1 10, Lopez 2 0-1 5, Hernandez 1 0-0 2, Christopher 0 0-0 0, Bench 7 0-2 17, Townes 0 0-0 0, Pagan 0 0-0 0, Feliciano 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 2-6 39.

NATIVITY (39) — Clarke 6 0-0 13, Bowman 2 1-2 7, Pasker 4 1-2 9, Lutzkanin 0 0-0 0, Swartz 0 0-0 0, Bartashus 1 0-0 2, Kalkiewicz 0 0-0 0, Kramer 0 0-0 0, Keating 8 8-8 27, Shimko 1 1-4 3, McDonald 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 11-16 62.

3-point FGs: Clarke, Bowman 2, Keating 3, Burrous, Lopez, Bench 3

Officials: Rizzo, Hurd, Lopez

Panther Valley 62, Tamaqua 53

LANSFORD — Jake Moyer exploded for a game-high 22 points as Panther Valley defeated Tamaqua in Division I action.

Danny Wehr chipped in 12 points for the Panthers, who outscored the Blue Raiders 21-10 in the second frame.

For Tamaqua, Jakin Tamgini and Terrence McDowell tied a team-high 11 points.

TAMAQUA (53) — McDowell 3 3-4 11, McCabe 1 0-0 2, Edmonds 5 4-4 16, Schickram 1 2-2 5, Shannon 1 0-0 2, Frohnheiser 0 0-2 0, Makovec 1 1-2 3, Tamagini 4 0-0 11, Broadway 1 1-2 3. Totals 17 11- 16 53.

PANTHER VALLEY (62) — Moyer 7 5-6 22, Crampsie 0 0-0 0, McArdle 2 0-0 5, Breiner 2 5-6 9, Mitchell 0 0-0 0, Wehr 4 2-6 12, Banaravage 0 0-0 0, Thomas 3 4-4 10, Maynard 0 3-4 3, Williams 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 17-24 62.

3-point FGs: Tamagini 3, McDowell 2, Edmonds 2, Schickram, Wehr 4, Moyer 3

JV Score: Tamaqua 46-34

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Tamaqua 46, Minersville 22

MINERSVILLE — Millie Black scored a game-high 20 points and Leah Black added 11 as Tamaqua rolled past Minersville in a Division I game.

Minersville was led by Jenna Cullen, who finished with 15 points in the loss.

TAMAQUA (46) — Osenbach 2 0-0 4, M. Black 10 0-1 20, Ellington 0 0-0 0, Bamford 0 0-0 0, Ligenza 2 2-5 6, Coleman 1 0-2 3, Conahan 0 0-0 0, L. Black 4 3-6 11, Gormley 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 5-14 46.

MINERSVILLE (22) — Brennan 0 1-2 1, Ladick 0 0-0 0, Cullen 6 2-4 15, Boom 1 0-0 2, Cruz 0 0-0 0, Mistishen 0 0-0 0, McGrath 0 0-0 0, Ilsley 2 0-2 4. Totals 9 3-8 22.

3-point FGs: Coleman, Cullen

Officials: Reed, Fryer, Wood

Williams Valley 61, Nativity 22

POTTSVILLE — Ireland Kasper nailed eight 3-pointers for a team-high 18 points and Mallory Miller chipped in 17 as Williams Valley flew past Nativity in a Division II game.

Emmalee Pinkey collected a team-high eight points for Nativity.

WILLIAMS VALLEY (61) — Shomper 2 0-0 5, Starnowsky 0 0-0 0, Kobularik 3 0-0 6, Miller 5 4-5 17, Koppenhaver 1 0-0 3, Smeltz 4 0-0 10, Readinger 1 0-0 2, Kasper 6 0-0 18. Totals 22 4-5 61.

NATIVITY (22) — Revilla 0 0-0 0, Lorence 0 0-0 0, Pinkey 2 3-5 8, Vizcaino 0 0-0 0, Hylka 0 0-0 0, Zulick 1 0-0 2, Rushannon 0 0-0 0, Pascual 0 0-0 0, McNamara 1 4-6 6, Purcell 0 0-0 0, Stewart 2 0-0 4, Evans 0 2-2 2. Totals 6 9-13 22.

3-point FGs: Shomper, Miller 3, Koppenhaver, Smeltz 2, Kasper 6, Pinkey

Officials: Wise

Northumberland Christian 33, Weatherly 19

NORTHUMBERLAND — Weatherly struggled to find offense as Northumberland Christian pulled away in a non-league contest.

Kelly Reiner led Weatherly with 15 points, but the Wreckers were held to just five points in the second half.

WEATHERLY (19) — Kane 2 0-0 5, Kehler 0 0-0 0, Way-Heffner 0 0-0 0, Reiner 5 0-0 15, Weston 0 0-0 0, Snyder 0 0-0 0. Totals 7 0-0 19.

NORTHUMBERLAND CHRISTIAN (33) — Conner 6 4-5 16, Lamey 0 0-0 0, Reitz 0 0-0 0, Bennett 1 0-0 2, Phillips 2 0-0 5, Millett 4 1-2 10, Hamilton 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 5-7 33.

3-point FGs: Phillips, Millett, Kane, Reiner 4