Nativity's Jake Bowman (1) at the free throw line in a tightly contested Schuylkill League Division II boys' basketball game between Nativity and Lourdes on Thursday at Nativity. Bowman sank both free throws to put the Hilltoppers ahead in the closing seconds (Photo courtesy of Nativity Athletics).

POTTSVILLE — Trey Keating powered the offense, but it was Jake Bowman’s composure at the foul line that ultimately made the difference as Nativity edged Lourdes in a neck-and-neck battle Thursday.

Bowman knocked down a pair of clutch free throws in the final seconds to lift the Hilltoppers to a 59-58 victory in a tightly contested Schuylkill League Division II contest that wasn’t decided until the final possession.

The game unfolded as a 32-minute grind. Lourdes continued to trade punches with Nativity throughout the second half, using balanced scoring and physical play to keep pressure on the Hilltoppers.

The Red Raiders surged ahead in the third quarter behind a strong team balance, but Nativity answered with timely shots and transition baskets to stay within striking distance.

Keating was the steady force all night for Nativity, finishing with a game-high 27 points, including four 3-pointers, as the Hilltoppers weathered every Lourdes run. Layne Pasker added 15 points, providing a key secondary scoring threat.

Lourdes was led by Gavin Renn with 17 points, while Brighton Scicchitano and Billy Rishel added 14 apiece, but the Red Raiders couldn’t find the final answer after Bowman’s late heroics.

LOURDES (58) — Scicchitano 5 3-4 14, G. Renn 7 1-1 17, B. Rishel 7 0-0 14, Moore 3 0-0 8, J. Rishel 1 0-0 2, Williams 1 0-0 3. Totals 24 4-5 58. 

NATIVITY (59) — Clarke 3 1-2 7, Bowman 1 2-2 5, Pasker 7 0-0 15, Lutzkanin 0 0-0 0, Swartz 1 0-0 3, Holley 0 0-0 0, Keating 9 5-7 27, Shimko 1 0-0 2. Totals 22 8-11 59. 

3-point FGs: Scicchitano, G. Renn 2, Moore 2, Williams, Pasker, Bowman, Swartz, Keating 4

Officials: J. Dean, Melewsky, Shober

JV Score: Nativity 50-46

Pottsville 63, Panther Valley 42

LANSFORD — Ryder Bowers poured in a game-high 17 points as Pottsville used a fast start and balanced scoring to pull away from Panther Valley a Division I game.

Christian Alvarez added 16 points and Davey Kunstek chipped in 13 as Pottsville placed three players in double figures and knocked down timely 3-pointers to keep the Panthers at arm’s length.

Darian Revell netted a team-high 13 points for the Panthers.

POTTSVILLE (63) — Hobbs 2 1-3 6, McGinley 1 1-1 3, Allen 0 1-2 1, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Leskin 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 7 1-2 16, Bowers 6 0-0 17, Kunstek 6 0-0 13, Kimber 1 1-2 3, Viars 1 2-2 4. Totals 24 7-12 63. 

PANTHER VALLEY (42) — Moyer 3 0-0 6, Crampsie 1 0-0 3, McArdle 0 5-8 5, Breiner 2 1-2 5, Mitchell 0 0-0 0, Revell 6 0-0 13, Wehr 3 0-0 6, Baneravage 0 0-2 0, Thomas 1 0-0 2, Maynard 1 0-0 2, Williams 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 6-12 42. 

3-point FGs: Revell, Crampsie, Alvarez, Bowers 5, Kunstek, Hobbs

Officials: Lopez, Litwhiler, Gonzalez

JV Score: Pottsville 59-52

Minersville 64, Pine Grove 44

PINE GROVE — Shazier Bethea scored a game-high 18 points as Minersville jumped out early and never looked back in a Division I victory over Pine Grove.

Jordan Bowers collected 15 points, Chase Zimerofsky added 13 points and Nolan Plesnarski knocked down four 3-pointers to finish with 12 as the Miners built a commanding halftime lead and controlled the tempo throughout.

Dane Hannevig paced Pine Grove with 12 points, while Terrin Witmer added nine.

MINERSVILLE (64) — Adams 0 0-0 0, Rogers 0 0-0 0, Zimerofsky 5 1-2 13, Fessler 1 1-2 3, Bethea 7 2-3 18, McGrath 0 0-0 0, Seddon 1 0-0 3, Pepin 0 0-0 0, Toth 0 0-0 0, Bowers 7 1-1 15, Mealey 0 0-0 0, Plesnarski 4 0-0 12. Totals 25 5-8 64. 

PINE GROVE (44) — Hitz 0 2-2 2, Fairell 0 1-2 1, Hannevig 5 2-4 12, Witmer 4 1-3 9, Schneck-Haines 2 0-0 6, Shanahan 0 0-0 0, Herber 3 0-0 6, Felty 2 0-0 4, Kolb 2 0-0 4, Snyder 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 6-11 44. 

3-point FGs: Schneck-Haines 2, Zimerofsky 2, Bethea 2, Seddon, Plesnarski 4

Officials: Merwine, Bulka, Onushco

JV Score: Minersville 49-16

Williams Valley 57, Weatherly 53

WEATHERLY — Evan Achenbach poured in a game-high 20 points as Williams Valley rallied past Weatherly in a tightly contested Division II matchup.

The Vikings used a decisive third quarter, outscoring Weatherly 21-10, to flip a halftime deficit and take control. Gabe Rodriguez added 14 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, while Bryce Zilinski chipped in eight to help Williams Valley close strong.

Weatherly was led by Niko Saldukas with 15 points and Ian McKeegan with 12.

WILLIAMS VALLEY (57) — Rodriguez 5 2-2 14, Dickerson 1 4-5 6, Rautzahn 0 0-0 0, Achenbach 10 1-5 20, Kandybowski 2 0-0 4, B. Zilinski 3 1-4 8, K. Zilinski 1 2-4 4. Totals 22 10-20 57. 

WEATHERLY (53) — Adler 3 0-0 6, Kokinda 3 2-4 10, McKeegan 5 0-0 12, Saldukas 5 1-1 15, Davis 0 0-2 0, Wagner 4 0-0 10. Totals 20 4-7 53. 

3-point FGs: Rodriguez 2, B. Zilinski, Kokinda, McKeegan 2, Saldukas 4, Wagner 2

Officials: Titus, K. Dean, Shinkus

Tamaqua 56, North Schuylkill 43

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — Gavin Edmonds tied a game-high 19 points as Tamaqua pulled away late to earn a Division I victory over North Schuylkill.

Terrence McDowell added 12 points and Jakin Tamagini chipped in nine as the Blue Raiders used a strong fourth quarter to create separation after a tight first three frames.

The Spartans was led by Julian Nelson with 19 points, while Jude Maziekas finished with 10.

TAMAQUA (56) — Chalk 0 0-0 0, McDowell 5 0-0 12, McCabe 2 0-0 4, Edmonds 7 2-3 19, Schickram 1 0-4 3, Shannon 1 3-4 5, Frohnheiser 0 0-0 0, Makovec 0 0-0 0, Tamagini 4 0-0 9, Broadway 2 0-0 4. Totals 22 5-11 56.

NORTH SCHUYLKILL (43) — Cairo 0 0-0 0, Damiter 0 1-2 1, Maziekas 4 0-0 10, Kacilowicz 1 3-4 5, Nelson 7 5-9 19, McNally 2 2-4 6, Gallagher 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 11-19 43. 

3-point FGs: Edmonds 3, McDowell 2, Schickram, Tamagini, Maziekas 2

Officials: Wood, Gerchak, Cooper

JV Score: North Schuylkill 51-49

Blue Mountain 64, Mahanoy Area 30

MAHANOY CITY — Tyierre Meade poured in a game-high 26 points as Blue Mountain cruised past Mahanoy Area in a Division I matchup.

Meade was efficient from start to finish, scoring 11 field goals and setting the tone during a dominant first half that saw the Eagles open up a double-digit lead. Evan Setlock added eight points, while Cohen Werner chipped in eight more as Blue Mountain built steady separation in every quarter.

Mahanoy Area was led by Ryan Zilker with nine points.

BLUE MOUNTAIN (64) — Meade 11 3-3 26, Setlock 3 2-2 8, Kirby 2 1-1 5, Pritiskutch 0 0-0 0, Disante 1 0-2 3, Singh 2 0-0 4, Werner 4 0-0 8, Henninger 2 0-0 6, McDonough 0 0-0 0, Gaddy 2 0-0 4, Martin 0 0-0 0, Evans 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 6-8 64. 

MAHANOY AREA (30) — Gallagher 0 0-0 0, Bowman 2 0-0 6, Perez 0 0-0 0, Dicasimirro 1 0-2 2, Cedenio 3 0-0 6, Smith 2 0-0 5, Contreras 1 0-0 2, Ramos 0 0-0 0, Byrne 0 0-0 0, Zilker 4 1-2 9. Totals 13 1-4 30. 

3-point FGs: Meade, Disante, Henninger 2, Bowman 2, Smith

Officials: Phillips, Dennis, Houser

JV Score: Blue Mountain 58-27

Marian 46, Shenandoah Valley 37

HOMETOWN — Jake Tom scored a team-high 15 points to lead Marian past Shenandoah Valley in a Division II game.

Gregory Tirpak added 13 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, as the Colts used a strong first half to build separation. Mitchel Knock chipped in eight points.

Izayah Lopez netted a game-high 18 points for the Blue Devils, while David Burrous chipped in 12.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY (37) — Reyes 0 0-0 0, Rivera 0 0-0 0, Nunez 0 0-0 0, White 1 0-0 2, Burrous 5 1-4 12, Lopez 5 5-8 18, B. Hernandez 2 0-0 5, Bench 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 5-12 37. 

MARIAN (46) — Shigo 0 0-0 0, Tom 5 4-10 15, Paulino 0 0-0 0, Acosta 3 0-0 6, Do. Rodino 0 2-4 2, Tirpak 4 3-5 13, Knock 3 2-2 8, Cannon 0 0-0 0, Bonner 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 11-21 46. 

3-point FGs: Burrous, Lopez 3, B. Hernandez, Tom, Tirpak 2