HS Hoops Weekend Roundup: Haven girls clinch D-I title, Conti hits 1,000, Miners boys nip Marian

The Schuylkill Haven girls' basketball team poses for a photo after defeating Panther Valley Saturday to clinch the Schuylkill League Division I girls' title (Submitted Photo)

Hurricanes down PV to clinch 1st-ever Division I crown

LANSFORD — For the first time in school history, the Schuylkill Haven girls’ basketball team is a Schuylkill League division champion.

The Hurricanes captured the Schuylkill League Division I title Saturday afternoon with a 53-34 victory over Panther Valley. The title isn’t just the girls’ basketball team’s first-ever division crown, it’s the first-ever Schuylkill League Division I championship in any sport for Schuylkill Haven.

Audrey Hutchinson paced Schuylkill Haven with 20 points, scoring 10 points in the first half as the Hurricanes built a 25-10 halftime cushion and cruised from there en route to their ninth straight win. Mckenna Runkle added 18 points, scoring nine in both halves. Caroline Breslin drained four 3-pointers and scored a team-high 19 points to lead Panther Valley.

The victory gives Schuylkill Haven (17-4, 12-1 D-I) a bye into the league semifinals, which are slated for Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Martz Hall. North Schuylkill (13-6, 10-3) and Tamaqua (16-5, 10-3) have also qualified for the league playoffs from Division I, while Lourdes (19-1, 13-0) and Mahanoy Area (16-5, 11-2) have earned berths from Division II. The third spot from Division II is still unsettled.

The Schuylkill League quarterfinals will be held Saturday, Feb. 7, at Martz Hall, with the girls’ quarterfinals at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and the boys’ quarterfinals at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

The girls’ semifinals are set for Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The boys’ semifinals follow Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the same times, with the championship doubleheader slated for Friday, Feb. 13, at Martz Hall. The girls’ final is set for 6 p.m., with the boys’ final to follow.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN (53) — Hutchinson 9 2-2 20, Siket 3 0-0 9, Runkle 5 6-14 18, Terefencko 1 0-0 3, Strenkoski 1 0-0 2, Wade 0 1-2 1, Farrell 0 0-0 0, Houvig 0 0-0 0, Benedict 0 0-0 0, Brand 0 0-0 0, Kovaleski 0 0-0 0, Bayer 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 9-18 53.

PANTHER VALLEY (34) — Gjoca 1 1-2 3, Kocha 1 4-8 6, K. Breslin 0 0-0 0, Blazosky 0 0-0 0, C. Breslin 6 3-6 19, Prudente 0 0-0 0, Alabovitz 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 8-19 34.

3-point FGs: Runkle 2, Siket 3, Terefencko, C. Breslin 4

Officials: K. Dean, Wise

JV Score: No game

North Schuylkill 60, Williamsport 45

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — Mya Conti became the newest member of North Schuylkill’s 1,000-point club, scoring 22 points as the Spartans rolled past the Millionaires in a non-league game Saturday at the Cesari-Hope Gymnasium.

Conti needed five points coming into the game to reach 1,000. She hit the milestone in the first quarter on a jump shot from the left corner. She enters Monday’s clash with Tamaqua at 1,017 career points.

Monica Selgrade added 14 points and Gianna Capone tallied 11 for North Schuylkill, which opened the game on a 15-3 run.

WILLIAMSPORT (45) — Engel 1 0-0 2, Cannade 1 0-0 2, Minor 2 1-2 5, Helmrich 10 3-6 26, Martin 2 0-0 4, Fabian 2 0-0 6, Soloman 0 0-0 0, Pennyoff 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 4-8 45.

NORTH SCHUYLKILL (60) — Selgrade 5 4-6 14, Conti 8 4-6 22, Capone 4 0-0 11, Ja. Stitzer 3 1-3 7, Digris 2 0-0 6, Urbanowicz 0 0-0 0, Gawrylik 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 9-15 60.

3-point FGs: Hemrich 3, Fabian 2, Conti 2, Capone 3, Digris 2

Officials: J. Dean, Wartman, Fryer

Mahanoy Area 43, Shenandoah Valley 32

MAHANOY CITY — Ella Connolly paced a balanced attack with 14 points as the Golden Bears rallied past the Blue Devils in a Schuylkill League Division II game played Sunday afternoon.

Connolly had eight of her points in the third quarter as Mahanoy Area used a 20-8 run to overcome a 17-13 halftime deficit. Felicia Bro had all 11 of her points in the second half, while Naomi Kowalick added 10 points. The Bears outscored the Devils 30-15 in the second half, snapping Shenandoah Valley’s five-game win streak.

Gianna Troutman scored 11 points to lead Shenandoah Valley, which was hampered by a 9-for-21 effort at the foul line.

The loss drops Shenandoah Valley (11-10, 7-6 D-II) one game behind Marian (11-9, 8-5) for third place in Division II. The teams meet tonight in Hometown. A Marian win gives the Fillies the final spot in the Schuylkill League playoffs, while a Shenandoah Valley win forces at least one tiebreaker game. Williams Valley (14-6, 7-6) is also in the playoff mix but needs a Blue Devils win tonight to stay alive.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY (32) — Troutman 4 3-8 11, Donovan 0 2-4 2, J. Chagolla 3 0-0 7, Monaghan 1 2-4 4, Li. Salguero 3 2-5 8. Totals 11 9-21 32.

MAHANOY AREA (43) — Haughney 0 3-4 3, Manley 0 0-0 0, Wonsock 0 0-0 0, Christian 0 0-0 0, Bro 3 2-4 11, Carl 2 0-0 5, Kowalick 4 1-1 10, Connolly 7 0-0 14. Totals 16 6-9 43.

3-point FGs: J. Chagolla, Bro 3, Carl, Kowalick

Officials: Burke, Fryer, Kohr

JV Score: No game

Tamaqua 50, Catasauqua 41

TAMAQUA — Millie Black scored a career-high 29 points and pulled down nine rebounds as the Blue Raiders rallied past the Rough Riders in a non-league contest Saturday.

Leah Black and Lauren Ligenza each had 12 rebounds for Tamaqua, which closed the game on a 23-4 run to rally from a 37-27 deficit entering the fourth quarter.

Haley Jenkins had 27 points for Catasauqua, which had won eight straight games entering Saturday’s contest. The Rough Riders are currently the No. 3 team in the District 11 Class 3A playoff ratings.

CATASAUQUA (41) — Roberts 1 0-0 2, Sankari 0 2-2 2, Lafond 1 0-4 2, Jenkins 9 8-9 27, Stewart 4 0-0 8, Justo 0 0-0 0, Mankos 0 0-0 0, Wetzel 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 10-15 41.

TAMAQUA (50) — Osenbach 2 0-0 4, M. Black 12 5-8 29, Ellington 0 0-0 0, Bamford 0 0-0 0, Ligenza 2 2-4 6, Coleman 0 1-2 1, Conahan 0 2-4 2, L. Black 1 6-11 8, Gormley 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 16-29 50.

3-point FGs: Jenkins

Officials: McCarthy, Bulka, McDonough

JV Score: No game

Governor Mifflin 60, Blue Mountain 50

ORWIGSBURG — Mila Fleagle scored a game-high 18 points as the Eagles dropped a non-league game to the Mustangs.

Hailey Place added 13 points for Blue Mountain, which was outscored 37-21 in the first half. Governor Mifflin had three players in double figures and drained nine 3-pointers.

GOVERNOR MIFFLIN (60) — George 2 0-0 6, Martin 6 2-4 15, Super 6 0-1 14, Tobin 0 0-0 0, Case 4 0-0 9, Renninger 5 3-3 16. Totals 23 5-8 60.

BLUE MOUNTAIN (50) — Fleagle 8 2-4 18, Canfield 1 0-0 2, Place 6 0-0 13, Peel 4 0-0 8, Koch 0 0-2 0, Leonard 0 0-0 0, Walborn 3 0-0 9. Totals 22 2-6 50.

3-point FGs: George 2, Martin, Super 2, Case, Renninger 3, Place

Officials: Cooper, Rossino, Karinch

JV Score: Governor Mifflin 36-35

Lehighton 45, Pottsville 25

LEHIGHTON — The Crimson Tide were held to just four points in the middle quarters in a non-league loss to the Indians.

Jes Siminitus had a team-high eight points for Pottsville, which suffered its seventh straight loss.

The Indians had three players in double figures, outscoring Pottsville 26-4 in the middle frames. Lehighton (19-2) is the top-ranked team in the District 11 Class 4A playoffs heading into the final week.

POTTSVILLE (25) — Fegley 1 0-0 2, Siminitus 1 6-6 8, Goodman 2 1-2 6, Brennan 2 0-0 5, Ciavarella 0 0-0 0, Huda 0 0-2 0, Skripko 0 0-0 0, Curry 0 0-0 0, Duffy 1 0-0 2, Reed 1 0-0 2. Totals 8 7-10 25.

LEHIGHTON (45) — O. Serfass 4 1-2 10, Wise 1 0-0 2, Yeakel 0 0-0 0, Reph 0 0-0 0, Solt 0 0-0 0, Uyvari 3 2-4 10, Trotman 6 0-0 12, S. Serfass 0 0-0 0, A. Serfass 2 3-3 7, Saville 0 0-0 0, Wehr 0 0-0 0, Parliman 2 0-0 4. Totals 16 6-9 45.

3-point FGs: Brennan, Goodman, O. Serfass, Uyvari 2

JV Score: Lehighton 37-34

Line Mountain 64, Tri-Valley 35

MANDATA — Ava Snyder recorded a double-double with 10 points and 18 rebounds as the Dawgs dropped a non-league contest Saturday to the Eagles.

Avery Miller led Tri-Valley with 16 points, surpassing the 800-point mark for her career. Line Mountain scored 25 points in the first quarter and led 43-21 at intermission.

TRI-VALLEY (35) — A. Miller 4 7-10 16, G. Miller 0 0-0 0, Sitlinger 2 0-0 4, Sankas 1 1-8 3, Dietrich 0 1-2 1, Snyder 3 4-6 10, Hanlon 0 1-4 1. Totals 10 14-30 35.

LINE MOUNTAIN (64) — Stiely 2 0-0 8, Shutt 3 2-5 9, Troutman 0 0-0 0, Shingara 1 2-6 4, Schwalm 1 1-2 3, Ebersole 0 3-6 3, Cortelyou 0 0-0 0, Laky 1 1-2 3, Grindstaff 2 0-0 4, Boyer 2 0-0 4, Leitzel 1 0-0 2, Buriak 6 2-4 16, Schaffner 1 1-1 3, Moyer 2 0-0 5, Peyton 0 0-0 0, Alyssa 0 0-2 0. Totals 23 12-28 64.

3-point FGs: A. Miller, Stiely 2, Shutt, Buriak 2, Moyer

Officials: Zimmerman, Roth, Kline

Lourdes 46, Benton 34

BENTON — The Red Raiders secured their 13th straight victory with a non-league win over Benton on Saturday night. The game was a matchup of the top two teams in District 4 Class A, with Lourdes improving to 19-1 and Benton falling to 9-6.

No other details were available.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Tri-Valley 79, Weatherly 70

WEATHERLY — Tri-Valley closed strong down the stretch and used a balanced scoring attack to hold off Weatherly in a Schuylkill League Division II matchup.

Braeden Doyle led the way with 28 points, knocking down five 3-pointers and going 7-for-9 at the line, while Trey Porter added 21, Gavin Klock chipped in 12 and Kingsley Johnson poured in 10. The Dawgs used a decisive third-quarter push, outscoring Weatherly 24-21, to take control after a tight first half.

The Wreckers kept pace behind a big night from Corbin Wagner, who collected a team-high 26 points, and Ian McKeegan, who added 18.

TRI-VALLEY (79) — Carl 1 0-0 2, Miller 2 0-0 4, Porter 9 1-3 21, Johnson 4 0-0 10, Doyle 8 7-9 28, Klock 4 5-6 12. Totals 28 11-18 79.

WEATHERLY (70) — Adler 5 0-0 10, McKeegan 8 0-0 18, Saldukas 5 2-5 12, Davis 1 0-0 2, Wagner 11 1-1 26. Totals 30 3-6 70.

3-point FGs: Johnson 2, Doyle 5, Klock,

Officials: Towle, O’Donnell, McDonough

Minersville 53, Marian 52

HOMETOWN — Jordan Bowers delivered a standout performance as Minersville survived a late push from Marian to earn a win in a tightly contested non-league battle.

Bowers finished with a game-high 24 points, while Shazier Bethea added 13 as the Battlin’ Miners led wire-to-wire but never fully pulled away. Cam Rogers nailed a 3-pointer in the closing moments to put Minersville ahead.

Marian was led by Gregory Tirpak and Jimmy Cannon, who scored 14 points apiece, as the Colts battled back late and had a chance in the final moments before coming up just short.

MINERSVILLE (53) — Adams 0 0-0 0, Rogers 1 1-2 4, Zimerofsky 3 0-0 6, Fessler 0 0-0 0, Bethea 5 2-2 13, Seddon 0 0-0 0, Bowers 9 4-6 24, Mealey 0 0-0 0, Plesnarski 2 0-0 6. Totals 20 7-10 53.

MARIAN (52) — Tom 2 0-0 4, Nunez 3 0-1 6, Ju. De La Cruz 2 0-0 5, Ja. De La Cruz 4 0-0 9, Tirpak 4 4-7 14, Knock 0 0-0 0, Cannon 7 0-0 14. Totals 22 4-8 52.

3-point FGs: Rogers, Bethea, Nower 2, Plesnarski 2, Ju. De La Cruz, Ja. De La Cruz, Tipak 2

Officials: Rizzo, Shober, Groody

JV Score: Marian 50-34

Nativity 63, Tamaqua 52

TAMAQUA — Nativity built a first-half cushion and leaned on Trey Keating’s game-high 28 points to take a non-league victory over Tamaqua.

Keating connected on six 3-pointers on high way to his game-high, while Jake Bowman added 11 points and Nick Clarke chipped in nine. The Hilltoppers used a 23-point second quarter to take control at the break and maintained the advantage throughout the second half.

The win also clinches a District 11 Class A playoff spot for Nativity.

Tamaqua was led by Gavin Edmonds with 12 points and Donovan Broadway with 11.

NATIVITY (63) — Clarke 3 2-2 9, Bowman 4 0-0 11, Pasker 1 5-6 7, Lutzkanin 0 0-0 0, Swartz 2 0-0 6, Keating 9 4-5 28, Shimko 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 11-13 63.

TAMAQUA (52) — McDowell 2 0-0 6, McCabe 4 1-1 9, Edmonds 5 2-3 12, Shannon 0 0-0 0, Frohnheiser 0 0-0 0, Makovec 2 1-2 6, Tamagini 3 0-0 6, Broadway 5 1-2 11. Totals 21 7-10 52.

3-point FGs: Keating 6, Bowman 3, Swartz 2, Clarke, McDowell 2, Makovec

JV Score: Tamaqua 38-34

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