Schuylkill Haven's Braydyn Diehl takes the ball to the basket with Blue Mountain's Tyeirre Meade (3) defending during the Schuylkill League quarterfinal game at Martz Hall, Pottsville, on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Photo courtesy of David McKeown / Sharp Mountain Media)

POTTSVILLE — Blue Mountain saved its strongest stretch for last.

Tyierre Meade poured in a game-high 29 points, and the Eagles pulled away late in the fourth quarter to defeat Schuylkill Haven 64-54 in a Schuylkill League boys’ basketball quarterfinal playoff game Saturday at Martz Hall.

“I thought we got into a little more transition,” Blue Mountain coach Dustin Werdt said after halftime. “We were getting some good looks. I think we forced (Schuylkill Haven) into some bad shots, which helped in transition. The first three quarters, they were getting good, clean looks — even into the fourth quarter. Credit to Haven, they made some big shots.”

The game was very much in doubt entering the final eight minutes.

Clinging to a 39-35 lead to open the fourth quarter, Blue Mountain watched Schuylkill Haven storm back. Alan Evans opened the period with a bucket, and after three empty possessions on both ends, Justin Watcher slashed to the rim to tie the game at 39 and swing momentum toward the Hurricanes.

Meade responded with a driving finish for the Eagles, but Evans answered with a 3-pointer to briefly give Haven the lead. Cohen Werner quickly countered with a strong basket inside, and after another empty Haven possession, Meade attacked again for two more to put Blue Mountain back in front.

The back-and-forth continued.

Bradyn Diehl buried a wing 3 to knot the game at 45, but Beck Henninger answered immediately with a 3 of his own to swing momentum back to the Eagles. From there, Blue Mountain seized control for good.

“I said it on the radio — Beck’s our sixth starter,” Werdt said. “We have six starters. We’ve talked about it all year. We don’t have five starters, we have six starters, and Beck Henninger is that guy. We expect him to do those things, and we need him to do those things. It’s not the first time he’s hit big shots late in a game. We were at Northampton and he hit a 3 under two minutes that might have swung the game, so he’s no stranger to that environment or making big plays when needed.”

Meade came up with a huge block on the defensive end, Werner finished a second-chance opportunity, and after Haven’s Max Heim knocked down his fourth 3-pointer of the night, Werner answered with a banked-in triple that ignited the Eagles’ final push.

That sequence sparked a decisive 12-0 run to close the game, as Blue Mountain’s defense tightened and its execution sharpened at both ends.

Meade led all scorers with 29 points, while Werner added 15 and Henninger chipped in 10 for the Eagles, who outscored Schuylkill Haven 25-19 in the fourth quarter.

Schuylkill Haven was led by Evans with 18 points. Heim added 15, Watcher scored 11, and Diehl finished with seven as the Hurricanes battled until the closing minutes. Heim nailed a momentum swinging top of the key, turnaround buzzer-beater 3 that gave Haven the lead 28-26 at the half.

With the win, Blue Mountain advances to the Schuylkill League semifinals against Division I champion Minersville (21-1), which swept the Eagles during league play this season.

Blue Mountain will look to carry momentum built on timely shot-making and defensive stops — and possibly another clutch closing stretch — into Wednesday’s matchup with the Battlin’ Miners at 7:30 p.m.

“We need to be more solid on defense,” Meade said. “We need to be as physical as we can be without fouling, continue to attack the rim on the other end, and not settle for as many 3s unless they’re open. Just keep attacking.”

Game Summary

Schuylkill League Quarterfinals

Blue Mountain 64, Schuylkill Haven 54

At Martz Hall

BLUE MOUNTAIN (64) — Meade 13 2-5 29, Setlock 1 1-2 3, Kirby 1 0-0 2, Werner 6 2-2 15, Henninger 10, Wargo 0 0-0 0, Gaddy 2 0-0 5. Totals 27 5-7 64.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN (54) — Evans 6 2-3 18, Diehl 3 0-2 7, Kelly 1 0-0 3, Watcher 5 0-1 11, Heim 5 1-4 15, Lucas 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 3-10 54.

3-point FGs: Werner, Henninger 2, Meade, Gaddy, Evans 2, Diehl, Kelly, Watcher, Heim 4

Officials: Melusky, Pammer, Marquardt