D-11 Boys’ Hoops: Schuylkill Haven, Tri-Valley punch tickets to title clash
Schuylkill Haven's Justin Watcher (left) guards Marian's Jacob De La Cruz (right) during a District 11 Class AA boys' basketball semifinals doubleheader at Blue Mountain High School (Photo by Eli Doyle).
Hurricanes, Dawgs set for championship clash
ORWIGSBURG — Schuylkill Haven made just enough plays in the final minute to outlast Marian in a tense battle Wednesday evening.
Justin Watcher scored a team-high 17 points as the Hurricanes held off the Colts 62-57 in a back-and-forth District 11 Class 2A semifinal boys’ basketball game at Blue Mountain High School.
“We would build a lead, then give it back,” Schuylkill Haven coach Fran Murphy said. “It was because we were coming down the floor and just settling for 3s. I’m not even sure we made a 3-pointer in the game — maybe one or two.”
It was a matchup featuring two of the area’s most seasoned bench bosses. Schuylkill Haven’s Murphy and Marian’s Paul Brutto have combined for decades of experience on the sidelines, and that veteran presence showed in a game filled with adjustments, momentum swings and late-game execution.
The Hurricanes (16-8) led 33-24 at halftime and carried a 47-43 edge into the fourth quarter before the Colts made one final push.
Marian (10-13) tied the game at 57-57 with 1:28 remaining after Jimmy Cannon converted two free throws, capping a steady rally. But Schuylkill Haven responded with poise.
Max Heim knocked down two free throws with 1:05 left to give Haven the lead for good, and Watcher followed with three clutch foul shots in the final 37 seconds to secure the win. The Hurricanes closed the game 5-for-6 at the line in the final minute.
Bradyn Diehl added 15 points for Schuylkill Haven, including three 3-pointers. Heim finished with 11 points, Alan Evans added 10, and Brady Kelly chipped in nine as the Hurricanes shot 15-for-23 from the free-throw line.
Marian was paced by Gregg Tirpak’s 20 points, highlighted by five 3-pointers. Cannon added 14, and Jacob De La Cruz scored 12 as the Colts rallied from a nine-point second-quarter deficit to briefly take the lead in the third.
The third quarter featured multiple lead changes. Marian grabbed a 40-37 advantage behind Tirpak’s hot shooting before Haven answered with a 10-3 run to regain control heading into the fourth.
“I think we had a nine-point lead at half, and then Marian came out and did not miss a 3 in the third period,” Murphy said. “Tirpak just kept putting the ball in the basket. Jimmy Cannon also did a nice job putting the ball in the basket for Marian. They really tested us. We’ve played Marian in the districts now three years in a row and lost the first two times, whereas in the regular season we were successful against them. We’re happy to win a game here and get a chance to play in the final.”
In the final period, Tirpak’s 3-pointer gave Marian a brief 49-48 lead, but the Hurricanes answered each time the Colts threatened. After tying the game late, Marian had opportunities in the closing minute, but Haven’s defense and free-throw shooting proved decisive.
Schuylkill Haven advances to the District 11 Class 2A championship game Saturday against Tri-Valley (21-3) at 2:30 p.m. at Martz Hall.
Game Summary
District 11 Class AA Semifinal
At Blue Mountain High School
MARIAN (57) — Tirpak 7 1-2 20, Ja. De La Cruz 5 0-0 12, Tom 0 0-0 0, Ju. De La Cruz 3 0-0 7, Nunez 0 0-0 0, Cannon 4 5-5 14, Knock 0 2-2 2. Totals 15 6-9 57.
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN (62) — Evans 3 4-4 10, Diehl 6 0-2 15, Kelly 4 0-0 9, Watcher 4 8-11 17, Heim 4 3-6 11, Shafe 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 15-23 62.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
| Mar (10-13) | 12 | 12 | 19 | 14 | 57 |
| SH (16-8) | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 62 |
3-point FGs: Tirpak 5, Ja. De La Cruz 2, Ju. De La Cruz, Cannon, Diehl 3, Kelly, Watcher
Officials: Groody, Wojciechowsky, Towle
Tri-Valley 63, Moravian Academy 48
ORWIGSBURG — Trey Porter matched a game-high 17 points as Tri-Valley built a commanding lead early and cruised past Moravian Academy in a District 11 Class 2A semifinal boys’ basketball game at Blue Mountain High School.
The Dawgs (21-3) led 20-10 after one quarter and stretched the margin to 40-13 at halftime before putting the game out of reach with an 18-point third quarter.
Braeden Doyle added 13 points, and Gavin Klock chipped in 10 for Tri-Valley. Cooper Carl scored eight as the Dawgs placed multiple players in the scoring column and controlled the game throughout.
Tri-Valley began rotating deep into its bench in the second half and went away from its normal six-man rotation for the entire fourth quarter. Moravian Academy (2-21) left some starters on the floor until under three minutes remained.
Nicholas Rodney paced Moravian with 17 points, and Trevor King added nine for the Lions.
The Dawgs will face a familiar foe in Schuylkill Haven for the District 11 Class 2A title Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Martz Hall.
MORAVIAN ACADEMY (48) — Joseph 2 2-4 6, Perrucci 0 0-0 0, Woodworth 2 0-0 4, Gordon 2 0-0 4, Okune 0 0-0 0, Eckman 1 1-2 4, Weiler 1 0-2 2, King 3 2-2 9, Rodney 7 1-4 17, Horvath 0 0-0 0, Moore 0 0-0 0, Gianforcaro 1 0-0 2. Totals 19 6-14 48.
TRI-VALLEY (63) — Carl 4 0-0 8, Miller 1 0-0 2, Porter 8 1-2 17, Johnson 2 0-0 5, Doyle 5 0-0 13, G. Klock 4 1-2 10, D. Klock 0 0-0 0, Clemmer 1 1-2 3, Maurer 0 0-0 0, C. Troutman 1 0-0 3, T. Troutman 1 0-0 2, Olmos 0 0-2 0, Kaslavage 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 3-8 63.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
| MA (2-21) | 10 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 48 |
| TV (21-3) | 20 | 20 | 18 | 5 | 63 |
