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2024 - 2025 Pottsville Crimson Tide
2023-2024 Team Trip
to See Penn State Basketball
Crimson Tide Seniors Kole Becker
& Chase Oswald CO-MVP'S
For The Tide Good Luck
to Kole & Chase
Crimson
Tide Season EndsPHILADELPHIA - The hole was just a bit too deep for Pottsville to dig its way out. Despite
a late push led by seniors Chase Oswald and Kole Becker, the Crimson Tide couldn't overcome a disastrous second-quarter slog
as they fell to Carver High School of Engineering & Sciences 51-44 in the opening round of the PIAA Class 4A boys' state
basketball playoffs Friday night at Universal Audenried High School. Trailing by as many as 16 points, Pottsville powered
back behind Oswald's 11 second-half points and a pair of fourth-quarter 3-pointers by Becker to cut the deficit to three.
But the Engineers held strong in the game's final moments as Sahin Rodriguez scored 15 points and Matthew McField added 11,
both knocking down key free throws for Carver E&S. "Our kids fought all year, and it was a great experience,"
Tide coach Jake Wartella said. "But we feel like we're good enough to win games like this. I love our kids' effort. They
fought until the end, especially our two seniors Chase and Kole." Pottsville (19-9), the third seed out of District
11, took a 10-9 lead after a slow-moving first quarter, getting early looks around the rim. That prompted a change from
the Engineers (20-6) in the second, switching their defense to a zone. It wasn't quite stifling, but it was effective. The
Tide moved the ball and found the open man. But something about that zone kept them from putting the ball in the basket. "We
didn't really see a zone like that all year," Wartella said, "that 1-3-1 with athletic kids. It affected us a little.
We had clean looks; we had open shots. We have to make some of them." Pottsville scored no field goals and just
one point in the entire second quarter, while Carver E&S converted its stops into a few transition opportunities. The
District 12 runner-up Engineers took a 20-11 lead into the half, with Aaron Williams leading the way with six points. "The
second quarter killed us," Wartella said. "I didn't think we were (taking bad shots); we just weren't making them.
We had a lot of good looks, and, for whatever reason, we lost our confidence for a little in the second quarter." A
hot third quarter from Rodriguez allowed Carver E&S to extend its lead to 32-16 with 3:16 to play in the period. That's
when the Tide started to respond and begin chipping away. "I knew I didn't want to lose," Oswald said. "I
don't think any of us did." Letrel Montone scored five points in the third quarter with a pair of tough finishes
while the 6-foot-2 forward Oswald added his own timely inside bucket for Pottsville to make it a 33-25 at the end of the third. Oswald
then hit a deep 3-pointer early in the fourth, while sophomore guard Christian Alvarez buried another for three of his 11
points to bring the Tide within seven. Becker canned two triples as Pottsville streaked back, the second of which brought
the score to 47-44. "I think it meant a little more to me and Kole," Oswald said. "We fought hard, and
I think the others fueled off that. It helped us all play as hard as we could." As Pottsville was forced to play
the fouling game, the Engineers stepped up on an otherwise poor free-throwing shooting night. While Carver E&S shot
15-for-26 from the line in the game, Rodriguez went 3-for-4 and McField went a perfect 4-for-4 in the closing minutes to fend
off a Tide comeback and set up a second-round matchup Tuesday against District 4 winner Danville, which beat Octorora 63-50. For
Pottsville, the effort was there on the stage of the state playoffs, but its worst stretch of play - that second quarter -
proved costly in avoiding elimination. "I love the way we battled back," Wartella said, "and I still
think we had plenty of chances to win. ... (Carver E&S) is a very good team. They made the key plays in the right parts
of the game, and that's why they won." Game Summary PIAA Boys' Basketball Class
4A First Round At Universal Audenried HS POTTSVILLE (44) - Montone
3 1-1 7, Becker 2 0-0 6, Watkins 1 2-2 5, Bainbridge 1 0-0 2, Oswald 3 4-7 11, Alvarez 3 3-6 11, Hughes-Crane 0 0-0 0, Bowers
0 0-0 0, Flucker-White 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 10-16 44. CARVER E&S (51) -
F. Brown 2 2-2 7, Rodriguez 5 4-6 15, McField 3 5-6 11, Lewis 0 0-0 0, Young 2 0-2 4, A. Brown 2 0-0 4, Williams 3 0-0 6,
Simpkins 0 4-10 4, Lunon 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 15-26 51. Potts (19-9);10;1;14;19;-;44 Carver
(20-6);9;11;13;18;-;51 3-point FGs: Becker 2, Alvarez 2, Watkins, Oswald, F. Brown, Rodriguez
State Playoffs Crimson Tide plays Carver E & S, out of Philadelphia on Friday, March
8 at 6:00 pm
Crimson Tide Moves On to State Playoffs ORWIGSBURG
- Christian Alvarez's big night lifted Pottsville back to the PIAA playoffs. The sophomore forward scored a game-high
24 points as the Crimson Tide rolled past North Schuylkill 58-44 in the District 11 Class 4A boys' consolation game Friday
at Blue Mountain High School. Pottsville (19-8) will travel to face the District 12 runner up in the first round of
the PIAA Class 4A boys' tournament Friday, March 8. "We knew we needed the win and someone needed to step up,"
Alvarez said. "Going to states is obviously cool, so it's nice when I have a good game to get us there. "We
played great as a team. I mean, I had a great game shooting-wise, but my teammates set me up. Them and my coaches." The
Tide pushed the pace right out of the gates and outscored North Schuylkill (17-10) in the first quarter 19-11. Alvarez netted
two 3-pointers and totaled 10 points through the frame. The Spartans' Jack Keiter, a senior guard, did his best to match
Alvarez early and keep North Schuylkill in the game, along with surpassing a school milestone. Keiter collected seven
points in the first quarter and became the Spartans' all-time leading boys' basketball scorer when he knocked down a 3-pointer
with 2:29 remaining in the first half to surpass 2008 graduate Garrett Kelly's previously mark of 1,387 career points. Keiter
finished with a team-high 16 points and 1,394 total points in his career. "It feels great, I worked very hard for
it," Keiter said. "It feels great, I did everything to help my team win and put us in the best position to win with
my ability. "It's been the best time of my life." While Keiter's 13 points by the half points were helpful,
Pottsville held North Schuylkill at bay and led 40-25 at halftime. Alvarez added eight more points in the second quarter and
increased his total to 18 at the end of the first half. "Our message was to keep the same energy," Crimson
Tide coach Jake Wartella said about his halftime message. "We started cold in the second half, (North Schuylkill) hit
some shots, but our kids are resilient. They battled and they found a way." Chase Oswald finished with 12 points
for Pottsville, while Pottsville didn't quite have the same intensity offensively to start the second half as the Tide
only got two field goals to fall in the quarter. Alvarez nailed another 3 and Letrel Montone added a layup, while as a team
Pottsville netted shot 3-for-6 from the free-throw line in the frame. Chase Oswald knocked down two free throws and
Alvarez added one in four attempts. Oswald went 6-for-6 from the line and chipped in 12 total points. Keiter added two
more 3's and Jude Maziekas got a layup to fall as the Spartans matched the Tide with eight points in the third quarter. Pottsville
went bucket-for-bucket and held North Schuylkill at a comfortable distance, even as North Schuylkill outscored the Crimson
Tide 11-10 in the fourth and final quarter. But it was too far, too late, for the Spartans as Pottsville's hot start proved
to be the difference. Zane Zulkowski chipped in 12 points for North Schuylkill. "We have to play our game,"
Wartella said on the Tide moving on to the PIAA Tournament. "Play like we did tonight in the first half and good things
will happen." Game SummaryDistrict 11 Boys' Basketball Class 4A Consolation At
Blue Mountain HS NORTH SCHUYLKILL (44) - Drum 0 0-0 0, Cuthie 0 0-0 0, Maziekas 3 0-0
7, Miller 0 0-2 0, Keiter 6 0-0 16, Zulkowski 4 2-2 12, Marcinowski 1 0-0 3, Mengel 1 1-2 3, Chambers 0 0-0 0, Zilker 0 0-0
0, Rivera 0 0-0 0, Carl 0 0-0 0, Flail 1 1-2 3. Totals 16 4-8 44. POTTSVILLE (58) -
Hughes-Crane 0 0-0 0, Montone 3 0-2 7, Becker 2 1-1 6, Watkins 1 2-5 4, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Oswald 3 6-6 12, Bowers 1 0-0
3, Alvarez 8 4-8 24, Flucker-White 1 0-0 2. Totals 19 13-21 58. NS (17-10);11;14;8;11;-;44 Potts
(19-8);19;21;8;10;-;58 3-point FGs: Maziekas, Keiter 4, Zulkowski 2, Marcinowski, Montone,
Becker, Bowers, Alvarez 4
Crimson Tide Plays North Schuylkill, This Friday for a Spot
in the State Playoffs
Tide Falls To Allentown Central Catholic Allentown
C.C. 50, Pottsville 38 BETHLEHEM - Letrel Montone led the way with 11 points for third-seeded Pottsville, which
dropped a District 11 Class 4A semifinal to second-seeded Allentown Central Catholic at Bethlehem Liberty High School. Chase
Oswald added 10 points for the Crimson Tide, which played ACC to a 9-9 tie after one quarter. The Vikings, though, went on
a 13-4 run to lead 22-13 at halftime. Jahrel Vigo and Lucas Mushrush netted 18 points apiece for Allentown Central Catholic. Pottsville
will play in the consolation game Friday at a site and time to be announced. District 11 Boys' Basketball Class
4A Semifinal POTTSVILLE (38) - Hughes-Crane 0 0-0 0, Montone 5 0-0 11, Becker 0 2-2 2, Watkins
2 2-3 6, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Oswald 5 0-0 10, Alvarez 3 2-2 9, Flucker-White 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 6-7 38. ALLENTOWN
CENTRAL CATHOLIC (50) - Cook 1 0-0 2, Fridia 0 0-2 0, Spinosa 3 0-0 8, Jones 0 0-0 0, Davis 0 0-0 0, Vigo 8
2-4 18, Mushrush 7 1-2 18, Ensley 1 1-4 4, Stewart-Smith 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 4-8 50. Potts
(18-8);9;4;9;16;-;38 ACC (19-6);9;13;14;14;-;50 3-point FGs: Montone,
Alvarez, Mushrush 3, Spinosa 2, Ensley
Crimson Tide Plays Allentown Central Catholic on Tuesday,
February 27, 2024 in District XI AAAA Semi-finals
Pottsville rallies past Lehighton in District 11 4A quarterfinal ORWIGSBURG
- How do you overcome an early 10-point deficit in basketball? Defense. Pottsville proved that statement correct
Friday in its 55-44 victory over Lehighton in a District 11 Class 4A boys' basketball quarterfinal at Blue Mountain High School. The
Crimson Tide (18-7) cranked up the defensive pressure through the middle quarters, forcing 10 first-half turnovers to get
back in it. Chase Oswald scored a game-high 19 points for Pottsville, which advances to face No. 2 Allentown Central
Catholic, a 58-29 winner over Tamaqua, in Tuesday's semifinals at 6 p.m. at Bethlehem Liberty High School. "Everything
was happening too easy for them to start the game," Pottsville coach Jake Wartella said. "They came out fired up
and they had a good game plan. "We woke our kids up a little bit. I'm proud of the effort. It was great fighting
back. We could have went away and said game over, but our kids fought back. That's a great win." The Indians (14-10)
raced out to a 10-0 lead in the first 2:15 of the game as Joe Roth had five of his 18 points and Cole Dietz drained a 3-pointer
from the corner. Pottsville coach Jake Wartella called timeout. Oswald said it wasn't a happy huddle. "We
were mad. We weren't playing with our best effort," Oswald said. "Some words from teammates, some words from coaches
... we turned it on and were able to play with more fire. "Every game we always stress defense. Defense is our
main thing at Pottsville. We weren't playing very good defense to start the game off. After that timeout, that's what changed
everything for our defense and the way we played." Pottsville turned the game around by pressuring the ball the
entire court. Derek Watkins led the charge, picking up the Indians' point guards in the backcourt and forcing Lehighton to
extend its offense. He had a pair of steals that he quickly converted into layups, as Lehighton struggled to get into
any type of offensive rhythm. "The biggest thing about (Pottsville) is their defensive pressure," said Lehighton
coach Trevor Miller, whose team committed 10 first-half turnovers. "We handled it well at points. There was a stretch
in the second quarter where we didn't, where they went on a run because of our turnovers. I thought that was the difference
in the game." Oswald got the Pottsville offense started by recycling a miss, one of his eight rebounds in the game.
He then hit a wide-open 3-pointer from the top of the key that sparked a 12-4 run that tied the game at 18-18. With
the contest tied at 22-22 midway through the second, Pottsville got consecutive 3-pointers from Letrel Montone, Juju Bainbridge
and Kole Becker to break things open. The Tide led 31-24 at the half and never trailed the rest of the way. "That's
a huge 3," Wartella said of Oswald's 3-pointer. "He's a senior leader. We don't win this game without him. Hitting
a shot like that calmed everybody down and said, ‘We'll be OK.'" Pottsville extended its lead to as many
as 11 in the third quarter before Lehighton, in its final game as a Schuylkill League member, made a final push. Blake Roberts
had four of his 10 points and Roth had four more as the Indians went on a 9-2 run to slice the deficit to 43-38 with 3:40
remaining. The Tide, however, ran nearly 40 seconds off the clock on their next possession, with Christian Alvarez burying
a 3-pointer from the right corner off a feed from Oswald to put Pottsville up 46-38 with 2:56 remaining. Lehighton didn't
get any closer the rest of the way. "That's a big shot by Alvarez," Wartella said. Alvarez finished
with 11 points and both Montone and Watkins had nine for Pottsville, which shot 15-for-20 from the foul line for the game
and 9-of-14 in the fourth quarter. Led by its defense, Pottsville moves on. "Our kids found a way. They've
been doing it since the offseason," Wartella said. "Every game, it might be close, it might be ugly, but these kids
find a way to win games. That's a great quality to have. "We could have went away tonight and said we're happy
with our season. But they didn't want to lose." Game SummaryDistrict 11 Boys' Basketball Class
4A Quarterfinal At Blue Mountain HS LEHIGHTON (44) - Serfass 0
2-2 2, Johnson 2 2-3 6, Roberts 5 0-2 10, Roth 8 2-4 18, Dietz 3 1-2 8, Meek 0 0-0 0, Light 0 0-0 0, Hawk 0 0-0 0. Totals
18 7-13 44. POTTSVILLE (55) - Montone 4 0-0 9, Becker 1 1-2 4, Watkins 3 2-4 9, Oswald
4 10-12 19, Alvarez 4 2-2 11, Bainbridge 1 0-0 3, Hughes-Crane 0 0-0 0, Flucker-White 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 15-20
55. Leh (14-9);16;8;5;15;-;44 Potts (18-7);11;20;10;14;-;55 3-point
FGs: Dietz, Montone, Becker, Watkins, Oswald, Alvarez, Bainbridge
Crimson Tide plays
Lehighton at Blue Mountain at 5:00 pm on Friday
Crimson Tide Falls To The Bears POTTSVILLE
- Jace Yedsena stole the ball and headed to the rim. His two-handed slam early in the first quarter gave Mahanoy Area
a lead it would never relinquish and set the tone for the Golden Bears' 57-40 victory over Pottsville in a Schuylkill League
boys' basketball semifinal Wednesday at Martz Hall. The Bears jumped out to an early 7-0 run and did not allow a single
Crimson Tide field goal until the 4:10 mark in the opening quarter. The victory advanced Division III champion Mahanoy
Area to Friday's league championship game against Blue Mountain, a 66-53 winner over North Schuylkill, at 7:30 p.m. at Martz
Hall. "Usually, we start from behind and were down a lot," Mahanoy Area head coach Ted Styka said. "Today
was a good change of pace to actually be ahead and have control throughout the whole game." Mahanoy Area (23-0)
was ultra-aggressive in attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line in the early going. Chris Cuff and Tanner
Zawada each converted a 3-point play by driving hard to the rim finishing the layup and earning the foul. Zawada finished
with a game-high 16 points and Cuff chipped in 12 points on the night. The aggressive offensive attack of Mahanoy helped
put them up 16-3 with 1:48 left in the first quarter. Going into the second quarter, Cuff knocked down the game's first
3-pointer and then right after Cuff's three, senior guard Colm McGroarty came up with a steal off the inbound and drew a foul.
McGroarty's head's up hustle play really gave Mahanoy a huge boost of momentum. "He's a great senior leader,"
Styka said of McGroarty. "When you have your sixth man coming off the bench and he's All-State in football, the fastest
kid in the high hurdles, it's a great luxury to have." The free-throw line continued to be a key factor, as Mahanoy
Area shot 9-for-10 at the line during the first half, whereas Pottsville was just 1-of-4. The Bears kept up their same
level of aggressiveness on the defensive side as well, but for a period of time Pottsville was able to use Mahanoy's aggressiveness
against them. Pottsville (17-7) found itself down 13 with 5:13 on the clock but were able to draw a second personal
foul on Yedsena. Not long after, Christian Alvarez helped spark a 7-0 Tide run with a pair of field goals in the paint, making
the score 22-16 with 3:05 remaining in the half. The run helped Pottsville outscore Mahanoy 11-9 during the second quarter,
as they trailed 26-18 at halftime. During the third quarter, Mahanoy Area got into more foul trouble, as both Yedsena
and Brady Alansky picked up their third personal fouls. Alansky played a key role on the Bears' defense in not allowing
Alvarez to get going, but the foul trouble forced him and Yedsena to come out. However, Mahanoy was able to adjust effectively
with McGroarty and Ethan Manley coming off the bench in taking on the challenge of guarding Pottsville's biggest offensive
threats. The Bears remained in command for much of the third quarter and Yedsena's re-entry with 11 seconds to go was
heavily felt, as the junior attacked the rim converting yet another Mahanoy Area 3-point play in the winding seconds of the
third quarter. With Mahanoy up 41-28 after three quarters of play, Yedsena still was not finished flying high above
the rim to start the fourth quarter. The crafty lefty took off for another slam off a pass from Zawada to get the Bears' 16-point
fourth quarter started. The balanced, fundamental attack of Mahanoy continued to keep it in command of the lead for
the entire fourth quarter, as the Bears wrapped up the win and advanced to Friday's final. Contact the writer: sports@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6026; @repheraldsports on X Game SummarySchuylkill League Boys' Basketball League
Semifinal At Martz Hall POTTSVILLE (40) - Montone 4 3-8 11, Becker
3 0-0 9, Watkins 1 1-2 3, Oswald 1 2-2 4, Alvarez 4 3-4 11, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Flucker-White 1 0-0 2, Hughes-Crane 0 0-0
0. Totals 14 9-16 40. MAHANOY AREA (57) - Yedsena 5 2-5 12, Cuff 4 3-5 12,
Zawada 4 7-9 16, Alansky 2 2-2 6, Styka 1 5-8 7, Manley 0 0-0 0, McGroarty 1 2-2 4. Totals 17 21-31 57. Potts
(17-7);7;11;10;12;-;40 Mah (23-0);17;9;15;16;-;57 3-point FGs: Becker
3, Cuff, Zawada
Schuylkill League Boys' Basketball Playoff CapsulesWhere: Martz Hall Tickets: Adults/Senior Citizens
are $6. Students are $3. All tickets will be sold at the door and are cash only. Live updates: Follow Republican Herald
sports editor Leroy Boyer on X at @pubsportsboss Radio: Games will be simulcasted on WPPA 1360 AM, WPPA 105.9 FM, WAVT
101.9 FM Blue Mountain (20-2) vs. North Schuylkill (16-7) When: Today, 6 p.m. Up next: Winner advances to
Friday's championship game at 7:30 p.m. at Martz Hall. About the Eagles Head coach: Dustin Werdt (21st season) How
they got here: Division I co-champs had quarterfinal bye. Projected starters: Isaac Thomas (sr., C), Tyeirre Meade (soph.,
G), Tyler Miller (sr., G), Elijah Feisel (sr., F), Aidan Grace (jr., G) Key reserves: Braiden McGhee (sr.), Merik Brayford
(jr.), Max Heim (soph.), Chase Baldwin (jr.) About the Spartans Head coach: Will Bracey (4th season) How
they got here: The Division I wild card, Spartans defeated Division II champion Schuylkill Haven 69-55 in Saturday's quarterfinals. Projected
starters: Jack Keiter (sr., G), Zane Zulkowski (sr., G), Luke Miller (soph., G), Jude Maziekas (soph., F), Joey Flail (sr.,
F) Key reserves: Tyrone Chambers (sr., F), Fernando Rivera (sr., G), Zack Marcinowski (soph., G), Caden Mengel (soph.,
G) Game notes: Rematch of last year's boys' championship game, won by Blue Mountain 57-54 on dramatic 3-pointer by Grace
in final seconds. ... Teams met twice in regular season, with Eagles winning both, 80-66 on Dec. 11 in Fountain Springs and
71-63 on Jan. 25 in Orwigsburg. Meade had 25 points and Thomas 21 in first meeting, while Thomas had 26 and Meade 19 in second
game. Zulkowski has scored 21 and 24 in the two games vs. Blue Mountain. ... Eagles have won six straight games entering playoffs.
... Keiter scored a game-high 32 points in quarterfinal win over Haven as Spartans used a third-quarter run to take control. Pottsville
(17-6) vs. Mahanoy Area (22-0) When: Today, 7:30 p.m. Up next: Winner advances to Friday's championship game at
7:30 p.m at Martz Hall. About the Crimson Tide Head coach: Jake Wartella (4th season) How they got here:
Division I co-champs defeated small-school wild card Nativity 61-55 in Saturday's quarterfinals. Projected starters:
Letrel Montone (jr., G), Kole Becker (sr., G), Derek Watkins (jr., G), Christian Alvarez (soph., F), Chase Oswald (sr., F) Key
reserves: Juju Bainbridge (soph.), Gianni Hughes-Crane (jr.), Ryder Bowers (soph.), Tahlil Flucker-White (jr.) About
the Golden Bears Head coach: Teddy Styka (4th season) How they got here: Division III champions had quarterfinal
bye. Projected starters: Brady Alansky (sr.), Chris Cuff (sr.), Kadin Styka (sr.), Jace Yedsena (jr.), Tanner Zawada
(jr.) Key reserves: Colm McGroarty (sr.), Ethan Manley (soph.) Game notes: Tide are in the semifinals for the
15th straight season. Pottsville is looking to get to the finals after not making it last year. ... Golden Bears are in league
playoffs for first time since 2019, when they lost 56-13 to Pottsville. Tide and Bears don't play in regular season, but are
no strangers when it comes to the league playoffs. Tonight is the 10th meeting since 1980, and fifth since 2013. Tide own
a 6-3 advantage, with Mahanoy Area beating Pottsville in the 2014 championship game, 2006 semifinals and 1994 wild-card game.
... Becker had three 3-pointers and a game-high 19 points in quarterfinal win over Nativity, while Alvarez had 16 and Oswald
11. - Compiled by Leroy Boyer
Crimson Tide Plays
Mahanoy Area on Wednesday Night in Schuylkill League Semi-Finals
Crimson Tide Advances
to Semi-Finals With A Victory against Nativity POTTSVILLE - When the Pottsville boys'
basketball team was looking for someone to step up, it was senior Kole Becker who answered the call. Becker scored a
team-high 19 points and hit a clutch 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to lead Pottsville to a 61-55 victory over Nativity
in a Schuylkill League boys' quarterfinal game Saturday at Martz Hall. The Crimson Tide (17-6) advances to Wednesday's
semifinal round to take on undefeated Mahanoy Area (22-0) at 7:30 p.m. at Martz Hall. Becker knocked down a clutch 3-pointer
to tie the game at 21-21 going into halftime after the Hilltoppers went on an 8-0 scoring run before half. "It
was really good for us to get that spark," Becker said. Action kicked off with Pottsville's Christian Alvarez knocking
down a 3-pointer before both teams were quickly off and running. Alvarez had six points in the first quarter with his other
3 coming from well beyond the arc as time expired to give Pottsville the lead 16-10. Chase Oswald chipped in five points in
the first quarter for the Crimson Tide. Mike Quirk netted the Hilltoppers' first points after adding a pair of free
throws, but the second quarter was where Nativity really turned it on. Trey Keating hit his second 3 of the game and added
two layups to give himself 10 points at the half. Jack Messina added a steal and Keating got his first layup to fall to push
the Hilltoppers ahead 19-18. Keating's four points were part of an 8-0 Nativity scoring run. "It was back-and-forth
all game," Pottsville coach Jake Wartella said. "That's a credit to (Nativity), I mean they wouldn't go away. "We'd
get a little lead and (Nativity) hit big shot, after big shot, after big shot. They really shot well tonight, but I'm really
proud of our seniors. I thought Kole, Chase were awesome and that's the reason we won the game." Keating added
another two points to make Nativity's lead 21-18 with the half winding down, but Becker added another buzzer-beating 3 for
the Tide that tied the game at 21 at half. Becker had five points in the first half. In the second half, it was nearly
the same script. Nativity led early in the third quarter, but the Tide got right back on the offensive. It was Becker
again who sparked Pottsville with two 3-pointers, a layup and a pair of free throws for 10 points in the third quarter. On
the opposite side, Keating matched Becker with 10 points for the Hilltoppers in the quarter. After three quarters of play,
Pottsville led 43-38 and neither team was ready to go home. "As a team,
I thought we played really well," Becker said. "Our team defense was slow at first, but we came out and did what
we had to to get the win." In the fourth and final quarter, Pottsville outscored Nativity 18-17 as the Tide matched
everything the Hilltoppers threw at them. Keating added nine more points to bring his total to a game-high 27, but it still
wasn't enough to send Nativity to the next round. Alvarez and Derek Watkins each chipped in six points in the final
frame to help the Crimson Tide secure the win. Alvarez finished with 16 points, while Watkins collected 12. Oswald totaled
11 for Pottsville. "We have to clean some things up offensively," Wartella said. "I think we are forcing
some things right now. We have to play a near-perfect game Wednesday if we want to beat (Mahanoy Area). They're undefeated
for a reason and we know how good they are." Game Summary Schuylkill League Boys'
Quarterfinal At Martz Hall NATIVITY (55) - Messina 1 0-0 3,
Walborn 0 0-0 0, Borden 3 0-0 8, Dolbin 4 0-0 8, Quirk 1 2-2 5, Smith 0 2-2 2, Keating 9 4-5 27, Adams 1 0-0 2. Totals
20 8-9 55. POTTSVILLE (61) - Hughes-Crane 0 0-0 0, Montone 1 0-0 2, Becker 6 4-5 19,
Watkins 5 1-2 12, Alvarez 6 2-3 16, Oswald 4 2-3 11, Bowers 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 0 1-2 1, Flucker-White 0 0-0 0. Totals
22 10-15 61. Nat (13-10);10;11;17;17;-;55 Potts (17-6);16;5;22;18;-;61
3-point FGs: Keating 5, Borden 2, Quirk, Messina, Becker 3, Watkins, Alvarez 2, Oswald
Crimson Tide Takes
On Nativity on Saturday Night at 7:00 for Schuylkill League Playoffs
Crimson Tide Wins a Wild OnePOTTSVILLE -
Martz Madness came a couple of days early. Pottsville and North Schuylkill gave a preview of the upcoming Schuylkill
League boys' basketball playoffs Tuesday night, battling through two overtimes in a Division I clash at Martz Hall. Letrel
Montone's 3-pointer from the left wing with 28 seconds left proved to be the game-winner as the Crimson Tide pulled out a
68-65 victory that gave Pottsville a share of the Division I championship. The Tide (16-6, 13-1 D-I) and Blue Mountain
(20-2, 13-1) are declared Division I co-champions, with the Eagles getting the No. 1 seed from Division I and a quarterfinal
bye in Saturday's playoffs based on District 11 power rating. Pottsville will be the No. 2 seed from Division I and face small-school
wild-card Nativity in the last of four games Saturday night at Martz Hall. North Schuylkill (15-7, 10-4) is the No.
3 seed from Division I and will face Division II champion Schuylkill Haven in the third game Saturday. "It was
a playoff atmosphere tonight, so was the Blue Mountain game the other night," Pottsville coach Jake Wartella said. "We've
been playing playoff games the last couple of games. "We're excited for Nativity. It's going to be a great tournament.
There's six great teams in it and anybody can win it." Tuesday's game had everything a typical playoff game at
Martz Hall would have - intense play on both sides of the court, key shots by team leaders at clutch moments, costly turnovers
and missed free throws at critical times. For Montone, his 3-pointer was retribution after Pottsville failed to convert
a game-winning situation at the end of regulation. After Zane Zulkowski's two free throws tied the game at 54-54 with
1 minute left, Pottsville held for one shot. North Schuylkill played tough defense, but the Tide failed to run a play and
ran out of time. The only shot Pottsville was able to get off before the buzzer was an off-balance, long-range 3-pointer by
Christian Alvarez that didn't find the mark. {div}"We have to do a better job executing at the end of the game,"
Wartella said.{/div} Zulkowski tied the game with a foul shot with 53.4 left, but Chase Oswald put Pottsville ahead
60-58 with two free throws with 51.4 left. North Schuylkill had a chance to tie the game, but Joey Flail missed two free throws
- the Spartans were 2-for-7 from the line in the first OT. Derek Watkins put Pottsville up 61-58 with a free throw with
10.9, but North Schuylkill had one final chance. With Pottsville opting not to foul - Wartella said he and his coaches
"talked about but we let it play out" - Zulkowski banked in an off-balance 3-pointer from the left wing with 2.2
seconds left to tie the game at 61-61 and force a second extra session. "It was a great play by (Zulkowski),"
North Schuylkill coach Will Bracey said. "Great players make great plays and he does that all the time. I'm blessed to
have a good group of guys that work hard, and when you work hard great things happen. He had a phenomenal game." In
the second OT, Flail sandwiched two free throws and a layup around a pair of Chase Oswald free throws to put North Schuylkill
up 65-63 with 59 seconds left. Pottsville again held for one shot, but this time Montone created space near the top of the
key, moved to his left and drained the shot to put Pottsville up 66-65 with 28 seconds left. After a North Schuylkill
turnover, Watkins sank two foul shots to make it 68-65 with 11.5 left. The Spartans then missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer
in the final seconds. "We played Blue Mountain and I gave up a shot at the end of the game, and I just thought,
‘I can get me one,'" Montone said. "At the end of the game, it didn't work out that way. I had Christian behind
me and it didn't work out. "I'm not really big on catch-and-shoot. Most of my threes are pull-up threes. At the
end of the game, I knew I had to hit one. I saw the layup and the three was wide open. I had to get me one." Montone
had 14 of his team-high 23 points in the first half as the Tide led 18-15 after one frame and 30-29 at halftime. Oswald, who
finished with 15 points, sparked a 9-0 run midway through the third that put Pottsville up 44-35, but North Schuylkill rallied
to tie the game at 48-48 with 6:04 left. A putback by Oswald gave the Tide a 54-52 lead with 1:26 left before Zulkowski's
free throws forced overtime. Zulkowski led all scorers with 25 for the Spartans, while Keiter tallied 15 points, Flail
had 11 and Jude Maziekas netted 10. "North Schuylkill is a great team ... we may see them later in the playoffs.
We knew it was going to be a battle coming in," Montone said. "This is a great way to prepare for the playoffs.
We have Nativity on Saturday ... this is a great way to prepare for us." Contact the writer: Lboyer@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6026; @pubsportsboss on X Game Summary NORTH SCHUYLKILL (65) - Maziekas
4 0-0 10, Miller 0 0-0 0, Keiter 6 2-4 15, Zulkowski 8 6-10 25, Flail 4 3-6 11, Marcinowski 0 0-0 0, Rivera 2 0-0 4. Totals
24 11-20. POTTSVILLE (68) - Montone 9 2-3 23, Becker 3 0-0 8, Watkins 3 3-4 9, Oswald
5 5-5 15, Alvarez 3 0-0 7, Flucker-White 1 0-1 2, Bainbridge 2 0-0 4, Hughes-Crane 0 0-0 0, Bowers 0 0-0 0. Totals
26 10-13 68. NS (15-7, 10-4);15;14;11;14;7;4;-;65 Po (16-6, 13-1);18;12;16;8;7;7;-;68 3-point
FGs: Maziekas 2, Keiter, Zulkowski 3, Montone 3, Becker 2, Alvarez JV score: North
Schuylkill 58-49
Crimson Tide Falls to the Eagles- By Gehrig Hossler Correspondent
ORWIGSBURG
- When Pottsville and Blue Mountain get together on the hardwood, it seems right for the game to come down to the wire. That
was the case Friday night when the Tide and Eagles battled in a Schuylkill League Division I first-place showdown. The
Eagles pulled out the victory, 41-38, moving into a first-place tie with Pottsville atop the Division I standings. "Both
teams played extremely aggressive and extremely hard," Blue Mountain head coach Dustin Werdt said. "It certainly
showed that it came down to the last minute of the game." The game was tied at 38-38 with just under a minute remaining
in regulation when Tyler Miller made a play. The senior guard chased down a loose ball off a missed shot and kicked the ball
out. The play gave Blue Mountain a second chance and the Eagles capitalized as Isaac Thomas drilled the go-ahead 3-pointer
with 41 seconds to go. Thomas' clutch bucket may have been the shot of the game, but Miller's hustle securing the loose ball
may have been the play of the game. "Not everybody recognizes some of the things that Tyler Miller does, but our
team recognizes what Tyler Miller does," Werdt said. "He guards people, he gets rebounds, he gets loose balls, the
kid never quits on a play." With 12 seconds remaining, the Eagles needed one more stop. Blue Mountain's defensive
ball pressure stepped up as the horn sounded and Pottsville did not even get the shot off leading to a court-storming celebration
for the Eagles. Prior to the wild last minute of play, it looked like the Eagles were going to run away with the win. Blue
Mountain (19-2, 12-1 D-I) came out swinging, going on an 8-0 run to start the game. Pottsville's first bucket did not come
until a little over four minutes were left in the first quarter. Christian Alvarez, who had a game-high 16 points, helped
wake up the Tide's offense by earning his team's first points and scoring seven of the Tide's nine total points in the opening
quarter. Despite Pottsville (15-6, 12-1) closing the gap in the early going, Blue Mountain's defense did not let its
foot off the gas. The Eagles' defense remained in control for much of the first half, forcing turnovers and not allowing the
Crimson Tide to get into a consistent offensive rhythm. The Eagles held Pottsville to just 13 points in the first half
and found themselves with an 11-point lead at the break, 24-13. Blue Mountain came out fast in the second half, jumping
out to its largest lead of the night at 15. However, the Eagles fell into foul trouble and Pottsville's defense stepped up. Two
key players for Blue Mountain, Tyeirre Meade and Eli Feisel, picked up their third fouls midway through the third quarter.
The Crimson Tide saw an opportunity to attack, going on a 10-1 run to cut the lead to six and forcing a Blue Mountain timeout
with 3:04 on the clock. The final 24 seconds of the third quarter featured two big momentum swings. Meade made
an immediate impact when he re-entered the game, coming up with a steal that led to an exciting slam dunk that electrified
a standing-room crowd. Alvarez then answered for Pottsville, draining a 3-pointer just before time expired, giving Pottsville
the momentum going into the fourth quarter down 33-29. A wild fourth quarter got started with both teams trading buckets.
Letrel Montone then took over for the Tide, knocking down a 3-pointer and finishing off a strong drive in the lane with a
crafty layup. The five-point burst gave Pottsville its first lead of the evening at 36-35. Blue Mountain's leading scorer,
Thomas, came up big in the clutch. Following Montone's go-ahead layup, Thomas answered with a strong finish of his own
at the rim, making the bucket plus the foul to put the Eagles back in front by two. He finished with 15 points. Alvarez,
who scored a game-high 16 points, then tied it back up at 38-38 with just over four minutes to go. After three minutes of all-out defensive effort by both teams not allowing either offense to score, Miller's play put
Blue Mountain ahead to stay. Game Summary POTTSVILLE (38) - Montone
5 2-2 13, Becker 1 0-0 2, Watkins 1 1-2 3, Bainbridge 0 1-2 1, Oswald 1 0-2 3, Alvarez 7 1-2 16, Flucker-White 0 0-0 0. Totals
15 5-10 38. BLUE MOUNTAIN (41) - Meade 3 5-5 12, McGhee 0 0-0 0, Baldwin 0 0-0 0, Brayford
1 0-0 3, Heim 0 0-0 0, Grace 1 0-0 2, Miller 2 0-0 4, Feisel 2 0-0 5, Thomas 5 4-5 15. Totals 14 9-10 41. Po
(15-6, 12-1);9;4;16;9;-;38 BM (19-2, 12-1);13;11;9;8;-;41 3-point FGs: Montone,
Oswald, Alvarez, Meade, Brayford, Feisel, Thomas JV score: Blue Mountain 57-45
Crimson Tide Pounds The Panthers Pottsville
63, Panther Valley 43 POTTSVILLE - Derek Watkins paced Pottsville and totaled a team-high 12 points as the Crimson Tide
rolled past Panther Valley in a Division I game. Christian Alvarez, Letrel Montone and Kole Becker each scored 11 points
for Pottsville, who led 34-15 at the half. For the Panthers, Chase Weaver netted a game-high 13 points. PANTHER
VALLEY (43) - Kokinda 3 0-0 8, Weaver 4 5-5 13, Fisher 2 3-4 7, Penberth 1 0-0 2, Jones 2 0-0 5, Hood 0 0-0
0, Wehr 0 0-0 0, Krynock 0 0-0 0, Buyce 2 0-0 6, Neziri 0 0-0 0, Black 0 0-0 0, Maynard 0 0-0 0, Goida 1 0-0 2. Totals
15 8-9 43. POTTSVILLE (63) - Hughes-Crane 1 0-0 3, Montone 4 2-2 11, Becker 5 0-0 11,
Sukeena 0 0-0 0, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Watkins 4 4-6 12, Bainbridge 1 0-0 3, Yourey 0 0-0 0, Oswald 3 1-1 7, Bowers 1 0-0 3, McGinley
0 0-0 0, Alvarez 4 3-4 11, Flucker-White 1 0-0 2, Ivy 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 10-13 63. PV
(11-8, 5-7);8;7;16;12;-;43 Potts (15-5, 12-0);17;17;19;10;-;63 3-point FGs: Kokinda
2, Jones, Buyce 2, Hughes-Crane, Montone, Becker, Bainbridge, Bowers JV score: Pottsville 67-50
Eight In A Row Palmyra:
Christian Alvarez scored 10 of his game high 16 points through the middle quarters as the Crimson Tide garnered a non-league
road win at Palmyra. Letrel Montone added 15 points and Chase Oswald netted 11 points for Pottsville, which overcame an early
deficit with a 28-16 run through the middle Frames. Pottsville (58) Hughes-Crane 0 0-0 0, Montone 6 1-2 15, Becker 3 0-0 7, Watkins 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 0 1-2 1, Oswald
5 1-2 11, Alvarez 7 2-2 16, Flucker-White 0 0- 0 Totals 21 -5-9 50 Palmyra (35) Loser 3 0-0 6, Weldon 0 0-0 0, Scott 0 0-0 0, Burgess 6 2-3 15, Moer 1 0-0 2, Somer 0 0-0 0, Weaber 0 0-0
0, Brown 0 0-0 0, Warner 0 0-0 0, Roesch 4 0-0 10, Willard 1 0-0 2 Totals: 15 2-3 35 Pottsville (14-5) 11 16 12 11 -- 50 Palmyra 12 9 7 7 -- 35 3-point FG's:
Montone 2, Becker, Burgess, Rosech 2
Tide on a Roll LEHIGHTON - Letrel
Montone scored a game-high 18 points to lead Pottsville past Lehighton 58-35 on Friday night in a Schuylkill League Division
I boys' basketball game. Montone had eight points during the Crimson Tide's 24-3, third-quarter run that broke the game
open. Chase Oswald added 11 points and Christian Alvarez chipped in 10 for Pottsville, which maintained its one-game
lead over Blue Mountain in the division standings. Cole Dietz paced Lehighton with 12 points. POTTSVILLE
(58) - Hughes-Crane 0 0-0 0, Montone 7 1-2 18, Becker 2 0-0 6, Sukeena 0 0-0 0, Watkins 2 1-3 5, Bainbridge
1 0-0 3, Oswald 3 4-4 11, Bowers 1 0-0 3, McGinley 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 4 0-0 10, Allen 0 0-0 0, Flucker-White 0 0-2 0Ivy 1 0-0
2. Totals 21 6-11 58. LEHIGHTON (35) - Serfass 1 0-2 2, Solt 0 0-0 0, Light
2 0-0 4, Hawk 0 0-0 0, Fairchild 1 0-0 2, Johnson 0 1-2 1, Roberts 2 1-2 6, Meek 0 0-0 0, Roth 2 4-5 8, Dietz 2 6-9 12. Totals
10 12-20 35. Po (13-5, 11-0);15;14;24;5;-;58 Leh (12-6, 5-6);12;7;3;13;-;35 3-point
FGs: Montone 3, Becker 2, Alvarez 2, Bainbridge, Oswald, Bowers, Dietz 2, Roberts
Crimson Tide Rolls over Jim Thorpe POTTSVILLE
- Christian Alvarez scored a game-high 19 points as Pottsville remained unbeaten in Schuylkill League play with a 59-43 victory
over Jim Thorpe in a Division I boys' basketball game Wednesday night at Martz Hall. Alvarez had 13 of his points in
the first half as the Division I-leading Crimson Tide (12-5, 10-0 D-I) opened the game on a 25-4 run and led 41-16 at halftime. Chase
Oswald added nine points for Pottsville, which saw 14 players see action. Pierce Gothard paced Jim Thorpe with 17 points,
while Ben Goldberg had 12. JIM THORPE (43) - Barile 2 0-1 4, Domski 1 0-0 2, Goldberg 5 0-0 12,
Curran 0 1-3 1, Zurn 0 2-2 2, Moore 0 0-0 0, Gothard 7 2-3 17, Schrantz 2 0-0 5. Totals 17 5-8 43. POTTSVILLE
(59) - Hughes-Crane 0 0-0 0, Montone 3 0-0 7, Becker 3 0-0 8, Sukeena 0 0-0 0, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Watkins 2 0-0
4, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Yourey 0 0-0 0, Oswald 4 1-1 9, Bowers 1 0-0 3, McGinley 2 0-0 5, Alvarez 9 1-1 19, Flucker-White 0
0-0 0, Ivy 2 0-0 4. Totals 26 2-2 59. JT (1-17, 0-10);4;12;10;17;-;43 Po
(12-5, 10-0);25;16;14;14;-;59 3-point FGs: Goldberg 2, Gothard, Schrantz, Montone, Becker
2, Bowers, McGinley JV score: Pottsville 64-16
Tide Keeps Rolling Along TAMAQUA
- Christian Alvarez paced a balanced attack with 17 points as Pottsville defeated Tamaqua 68-60 in a Schuylkill League Division
I boys' basketball game Saturday night. Pottsville had four players score in double figures, as Kole Becker made three
3-pointers and added 16 points, Latrel Montone had 14 points and Chase Oswald netted 12. The Tide made eight 3-pointers
and shot 16-for-26 from the foul line, outscoring Tamaqua 34-26 in the second half after the game was tied 34-34 at halftime. Connor
Dillon led Tamaqua with a game-high 19 points, while Noah Mateyak had 13 points and Cooper Ansbach collected 12. POTTSVILLE
(68) - Hughes-Crane 0 0-0 0, Montone 4 4-8 14, Becker 5 3-4 16, Watkins 3 1-2 7, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Oswald 3 6-6
12, Bowers 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 6 2-6 17, Flucker-White 1 0-0 2. Totals 22 16-26 68. TAMAQUA (60)
- Ansbach 3 5-6 12, McCabe 1 0-0 2, Mateyak 5 0-0 13, Styka 2 2-2 6, Kane 3 2-2 8, Dillon 5 8-8 19. Totals 19 17-18
60. Potts (11-5, 9-0);15;19;19;15;-;68 Tam (8-9, 3-6);16;18;13;13;-;60 3-point
FGs: Becker 3, Alvarez 3, Montone 2, Mateyak 3, Ansbach, Dillon JV score: Pottsville 67-24
Crimson Tide Clips Cardinals Wings
Pottsville 70, Pine Grove 43 POTTSVILLE
- Christian Alvarez paced Pottsville with a game-high 22 points as the Crimson Tide rolled past Pine Grove in a Schuylkill
League Division I game at Martz Hall. Derek Watkins added nine of his 11 points in the third quarter as Pottsville
outscored the Cardinals 26-13 in the frame. For Pine Grove, Chase Sarge and Quinn Brommer tied a team-high 15 points. PINE
GROVE (43) - Sarge 6 1-2 15, Felty 3 0-0 6, O. Hannevig 0 0-0 0, Schneck-Haines 2 0-1 5, D. Hannevig 0 0-0 0, Brommer
6 3-3 15, Etzweiler 0 0-0 0, Lyons 0 0-0 0, Snyder 1 0-0 2, Boyer 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 4-6 43. POTTSVILLE
(70) - Montone 2 0-0 2, Becker 1 2-2 5, Sukeena 1 0-0 3, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Watkins 4 1-2 11, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0,
Yourey 0 0-0 0, Oswald 1 2-4 5, Bowers 3 0-0 9, McGinley 2 0-0 5, Alvarez 8 2-3 22, Flucker-White 2 0-0 4, Ivy 2 0-0 4.
Totals 25 7-11 70. PG (2-13, 1-7);6;13;13;11;-;43 Potts (10-5, 8-0);20;12;26;12;-;70 3-point
FGs: Sarge 2, Schneck-Haines, Becker, Sukeena, Watkins 2, Oswald, Bowers 3, McGinley 1, Alvarez 4 JV
score: No game
Crimson Tide Hold off the Spartans FOUNTAIN
SPRINGS - Kole Becker scored six of his team-high 12 points in the fourth quarter to help Pottsville hold off North Schuylkill
49-48 on Thursday in a Schuylkill League Division I boys' basketball game at Cesari-Hope Gymnasium. With the win, the
Crimson Tide remain one game up on Blue Mountain in the division standings. Christian Alvarez added 11 points, while
Letrel Montone and Derek Watkins contributed 10 apiece, for Pottsville. Jack Keiter led North Schuylkill with 18 points.
Zane Zulkowski netted 14 and Joey Flail had 12 for the Spartans. POTTSVILLE (49) - Hughes-Crane
0 0-0 0, Montone 4 1-1 10, Becker 3 4-8 12, Watkins 5 0-0 10, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Oswald 3 0-0 6, Alvarez 5 1-3 11, Flucker-White
0 0-0 0. Totals 20 6-11 49. NORTH SCHUYLKILL (48) - Keiter 6 5-5 18, Zulkowski
4 5-8 14, Flail 4 3-3 12, Miller 1 0-0 2, Maziekas 0 0-0 0, Rivera 0 0-0 0, Marcinkowski 1 0-0 2, Chambers 0 0-0 0. Totals
16 13-16 48. Po (9-5, 7-0);13;9;10;17;-;49 NS (9-5, 5-2);6;11;16;15;-;48 3-point
FGs: Becker 2, Montone, Keiter, Zulkowski, Flail JV score: Tie 41-41
Pottsville TV Interview
Crimson Tide Clips The Eagles Wings POTTSVILLE - Derek
Watkins had a breakout game Monday night at Martz Hall. The Pottsville junior guard scored a career- and game-high
19 points, including a 10-point surge in the third quarter, as the Crimson Tide defeated Blue Mountain 61-51 in a Schuylkill
League Division I battle of unbeatens. The victory left Pottsville (8-5, 6-0 D-I) as the lone unbeaten in the Division
I race. The loss was the first of the season for Blue Mountain (11-1, 5-1). "This was definitely a stepping stone
toward the next level," Watkins said. "Beating Blue Mountain, an undefeated team and the league champion, it's a
great team win." With the Tide leading 29-27 at the half, Blue Mountain's Tyler Miller opened the second half
with a steal, followed by five points to push Blue Mountain ahead 35-34. The Eagles' lead didn't last long, as Watkins
was heating up. Watkins netted 10 points in the third quarter to shift the momentum back on Pottsville's side. The
Tide took a 42-40 lead into the fourth quarter. Alvarez opened the fourth with a 3-pointer. After a Tyeirre Meade
scored for Blue Mountain, Alvarez converted a layup, Kole Becker hit a free throw and Tahlil Flucker-White took a charge.
A lane-slashing layup from Latrel Montone capped the 10-0 run that gave Pottsville a 52-42 lead with 2:56 left. Aidan
Grace connected on a 3-pointer for the Eagles to stop the bleeding. But Pottsville slowed down the pace, a polar opposite
of the first half, and bled the clock. The Tide shot 5-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final seconds of the fourth quarter
to hand Blue Mountain its first loss of the season. "We just have to keep moving forward," Watkins said.
"We have to prepare for North Schuylkill on Thursday." The first half was an old-fashioned slugfest.
The first quarter began with each squad exchanging bucket-for-bucket as the game was tied at 8-8 early. Watkins and Chase
Oswald each slashed through the lane for a layup as Pottsville pulled ahead 14-10. Tyeirre Meade and Isaac Thomas
answered with buckets for the Eagles to tie the score at 14-14. Oswald went 1-for-2 from the free-throw line to give the Tide
the lead 15-14 at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Pottsville outscored Blue Mountain 14-13 with
five different players chipping in points for the Tide. The Eagles briefly took the lead 27-26 after Grace hit a 3-pointer.
He had four 3-pointers and totaled 13 points for Blue Mountain. Thomas paced Blue Mountain with 15 points, while Meade had
12. Pottsville went on a 5-0 scoring run to head to the half with Watkins adding three points and Alvarez netting
a layup off a feed from Oswald. Montone tallied 14 points, while Alvarez finished with 13 and Oswald collected 12 points.
"We knew this was going to be a physical game," Pottsville coach Jake Wartella said. "It always is with
(Blue Mountain), they're a great team. They were undefeated for a reason. "We came out aggressive and matched
their intensity. That was the goal." Contact the writer: edoyle@republicanherald; (570) 628-6019; @iamelidoyle
on Twitter Game Summary BLUE MOUNTAIN (51) - Meade 4 0-0 12, McGhee 0 0-0 0, Baldwin 0
0-0 0, Brayford 0 0-0 0, Heim 1 1-2 4, Grace 4 1-2 13, Miller 3 1-3 7, Feisel 0 0-0 0, Thomas 7 1-1 15. Totals
19 4-8 51. POTTSVILLE (61) - Hughes-Crane 0 0-0 0, Montone 3 7-8 14, Becker 0 3-4 3,
Watkins 8 3-4 19, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Oswald 5 1-2 12, Alvarez 5 1-4 13, Flucker-White 0 0-2 0, Ivy 0 0-0 0. Totals
21 15-24 61. BM (11-1, 5-1);14;13;13;11;-;51 Potts (8-5, 6-0);15;14;13;19;-;61
3-point FGs: Meade 4, Heim, Grace 4, Alvarez 2, Oswald, Montone JV score: Pottsville
51-46
Crimson Tide Pounds The Panthers Pottsville 51, Panther
Valley 39 LANSFORD - Christian Alvarez scored 13 of his game-high 18 points in the second half as the Crimson Tide remained
unbeaten in Division I play with a comeback victory over the Panthers. Chase Weaver tallied five of his 16 to give Panther
Valley an early 10-6 after one frame, but the Tide used a 15-7 run in the second period to take a 21-17 halftime lead. In
the second half, Alvarez was 6-for-7 from the foul line, scoring seven points in the fourth quarter to help Pottsville pull
away. Chase Oswald added 10 points and Letrel Montone had 9 for Pottsville, while Thomas Buyce hit three 3-pointers
and had 12 points for Panther Valley. POTTSVILLE (51) - Hughes-Crane 0 0-0 0, Montone 3 2-6 9,
Becker 3 0-0 8, Watkins 3 0-0 6, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Oswald 4 2-3 10, Alvarez 4 9-11 18, Flucker-White 0 0-0 0. Totals
17 13-20 51. PANTHER VALLEY (39) - Kokinda 1 0-0 3, Weaver 5 4-4 16, Fisher 0 0-0 0,
Penberth 0 4-4 4, Jones 0 0-0 0, Breiner 0 0-0 0, Hood 2 0-3 4, Buyce 4 1-2 12, Black 0 0-0 0, Maynard 0 0-0 0, Goida 0 0-0
0. Totals 12 9-14 39. Potts (7-5, 5-0);6;15;10;20;-;51 PV (5-4,
2-3);10;7;10;12;-;39 3-point FGs: Montone, Becker 2, Alvarez, Kokinda, Weaver 2, Buyce
3 JV score: Pottsville 48-46
Crimson Tide Falls To Berks Catholic Berks
Catholic 57, Pottsville 43 POTTSVILLE - Christian Alvarez netted a team-high 12 points as Pottsville fell to Berks Catholic
in a non-league game. Kole Becker and Letrel Montone each chipped in 11 points for the Tide, who led the Saints 23-17
at the half. Berks Catholic used a 19-5, third-quarter run to take control. BERKS CATHOLIC (57) -
Dominguez 0 0-0 0, Nein 6 6-6 20, K. McKoy 4 1-2 10, J. McKoy 6 11-12 24, Altimar 1 0-0 3, Suski 0 0-0 0, Komoro 0 0-0 0,
Diaz 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 18-20 57. POTTSVILLE (43) - Hughes-Crane 0 0-0 0,
Montone 4 0-0 11, Becker 4 0-0 11, Watkins 1 1-1 3, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Oswald 2 0-0 4, Bowers 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 4 4-5 12,
Flucker-White 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 5-6 43. BC (7-0);6;11;19;21;-;57 Potts
(6-5);13;10;5;15;-;43
Tide Falls To Shamokin Shamokin 58, Pottsville
45 SHAMOKIN - Christian Alvarez netted a team-high 14 points as Pottsville fell to Shamokin in a non-league game. Jenssyn
Shuey scored a game-high 17 points for the Indians, who led 24-21 at the half. Case Lichty added 10 of his 14 points in the
third quarter as the Indians went onto outscore the Tide 34-24 in the second half. POTTSVILLE (45) -
Hughes-Crane 0 0-0 0, Montone 2 2-4 6, Becker 0 0-0 0, Watkins 3 0-0 6, Bainbridge 1 4-4 7, Oswald 2 1-2 5, Bowers 1 0-0 3,
Alvarez 4 3-4 14, Flucker-White 1 0-1 2, Ivy 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 10-15 45. SHAMOKIN (58) -
Price 1 0-0 2, Hile 4 1-3 10, Schroyer 1 1-2 3, Steinhart 1 0-0 3, Lichty 7 0-0 14, Leffler 2 1-1 6, Renn 1 0-0 3, Shuey 6
5-5 17. Totals 23 8-12 58. Potts (6-4);6;15;11;13;-;45 Sham (7-4);15;9;18;16;-;58 3-point
FGs: Bainbridge, Bowers, Alvarez 3, Hile, Steinhart, Leffler, Renn JV score: Pottsville
45-36
Tide Wins Over Williamsport WILLIAMSPORT
- Another mark in the win column for the Pottsville boys' basketball team. Christian Alvarez netted a team-high 11
points as Pottsville defeated Williamsport 43-37 on Wednesday in a non-league boys' basketball game at the Magic Dome.
The Crimson Tide trailed the Millionaires 25-21 at the half, but Pottsville found a second-half offensive surge and outscored
Williamsport 12-8 in the third quarter and again 10-4 in the fourth. Letrel Montone and JuJu Bainbridge sparked Pottsville's
offense to begin the second half as each knocked down a 3-pointer. Montone finished with nine points for the Tide,
while Kole Becker added two triples and totaled eight points. POTTSVILLE (43) - Hughes-Crane
0 0-0 0, Montone 2 3-4 9, Becker 3 0-0 8, Watkins 3 0-0 6, Bainbridge 1 0-0 3, Oswald 2 2-2 6, Bowers 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 5 0-0
11, Flucker-White 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 5-6 43. WILLIAMSPORT (37) - Moses-Clark
1 3-3 5, Lowe 3 0-0 8, Aolt 5 0-0 13, Johnson 1 2-2 4, Diggs 0 0-0 0, Rice 1 1-1 3, Washington 2 0-0 4. Totals
13 6-6 37. Potts (6-3);14;7;12;10;-;43 Will (1-5);11;14;8;4;-;37
3-point FGs: Montone 2, Becker 2, Bainbridge, Alvarez, Lowe 2, Aolt 3 JV score: Pottsville
42-33
Crimson Tide Rolls Over Lehighton POTTSVILLE
- Letrel Montone paced a balanced attack with 15 points as Pottsville remained unbeaten in Schuylkill League Division I boys'
basketball play with a 68-47 victory over Lehighton on Monday at Martz Hall. Christian Alvarez added 13 for Pottsville
(5-3, 4-0 D-I), scoring 10 of his points in the first half as the Crimson Tide built a 43-18 halftime lead. Derek Watkins
added 10 points for Pottsville, hitting two of the Tide's 11 3-pointers. Blake Roberts paced Lehighton with 17 points.
LEHIGHTON (47) - Serfass 1 1-1 3, Solt 0 0-0 0, Light 2 0-0 5, Hawk 2 0-0 5, Fairchild 2 0-0 4,
Johnson 1 1-1 3, Roberts 7 0-0 17, Meek 0 0-0 0, Roth 0 0-2 0, Dietz 2 1-2 6, Acosta-Rodriguez 2 0-0 4. Totals
19 3-6 47. POTTSVILLE (68) - Hughes-Crane 1 0-0 2, Montone 5 2-2 15, Becker 3
2-2 8, Sukeena 1 0-0 3, Herndon 1 0-0 2, Watkins 3 4-4 10, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Yourey 1 0-0 3, Oswald 0 0-0 0, Bowers 3 0-0
6, McGinley 1 0-0 2, Alvarez 6 1-2 13, Flucker-White 0 0-0 0, Ivy 2 0-0 4. Totals 24 9-10 68. Leh
(4-3, 1-3);7;11;16;13;-;47 Potts (5-3, 4-0);20;23;13;12;-;68 3-point FGs: Light,
Hawk, Roberts 3, Dietz, Montone 3, Becker 2, Sukeena, Watkins 2, Yourey, Bowers 2 JV score: Pottsville
46-40
Tide Nipped in Overtime NW Lehigh
64, Pottsville 59, OT POTTSVILLE - Christian Alvarez netted a team-high 17 points as Pottsville fell to Northwestern
Lehigh in a non-league game. The Crimson Tide jumped ahead 18-9 at the end of the first quarter and led 23-14 at the
half. The Tigers turned up their aggressiveness and forced overtime with both teams tied at the end of regulation at 50. Gavin
Nelson shot 8-for-8 from the free-throw line in overtime as Northwestern outscored the Tide 14-9. Nelson and Del Tyler each
scored a game-high 21 points for the Tigers. For Pottsville, Letrel Montone collected 15 points and Kole Becker added
12. NW LEHIGH (64) - Bollinger 2 0-2 5, Zimmerman 2 4-5 8, Wambold 1 0-0 2, Krimmel 0 0-0 0, Kozlowski
2 0-0 4, Nelson 5 10-10 21, Marth 1 0-0 3, Tyler 10 1-1 21. Totals 23 15-18 64. POTTSVILLE
(59) - Montone 5 4-4 15, Becker 5 0-2 12, Watkins 2 2-3 7, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Oswald 1 3-3 5, Bowers 1 1-3
3, Alvarez 7 2-3 17, Flucker-White 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 12-18 59. NWL (2-0);9;5;18;18;14;-;64 Potts
(4-3) 18,5, 11, 16, 9 ; 59
Crimson Tide Rolls Over Jim Thorpe Pottsville
63, Jim Thorpe 37 JIM THORPE - Christian Alvarez led a balanced attack with 12 points as Pottsville cruised past Jim
Thorpe in a Division I game. Kole Becker added 11 points and Chase Oswald netted 10 for the Crimson Tide, who led 37-21
at halftime. Matt Domski led the Olympians with eight points. POTTSVILLE (63) - Hughes-Crane
2 0-0 4, Montone 3 0-0 6, Becker 4 0-0 11, Sukeena 1 0-0 2, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Watkins 4 1-2 9, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Oswald 5
0-0 10, Bowers 1 0-0 3, McGinley 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 6 0-0 12, Flucker-White 0 1-2 1, Ivy 2 0-0 4, Yourey 0 1-2 1. Totals
28 3-6 63. JIM THORPE (37) - J. Spruill 2 0-0 4, Domski 3 0-0 8, Goldberg 2 1-2 6, Curran
2 1-3 5, Zurn 1 0-0 2, Z. Spruill 0 0-0 0, Moore 1 0-0 2, Gothard 1 1-1 3, Schrantz 2 2-2 7. Totals 14 5-8 37. Po
(4-2, 3-0);20;17;17;9;-;63 JT (0-6, 0-3);7;14;3;13;-;37 3-point FGs: Becker
3, Bowers, Domski 2, Goldberg, Schrantz JV score: Pottsville 68-26
Tide Rolls over Tamaqua Pottsville
74, Tamaqua 47 POTTSVILLE - Christian Alvarez scored 15 of his game-high 26 points in the first quarter,
leading Pottsville to a Division I win over Tamaqua at Martz Hall. Derek Watkins added 10 points for the Crimson Tide,
who led 41-27 at halftime. Cooper Ansbach tallied 19 and Connor Dillon netted 10 for the Blue Raiders. Each team made eight
3-pointers. TAMAQUA (47) - Ansbach 7 2-3 19, McCabe 0 0-0 0, Mateyak 3 0-0 9, Vecolitis 0 0-0
0, Styka 1 0-0 2, Kane 3 0-0 6, Frohnheiser 0 0-2 0, Dillon 3 3-5 11, Kamant 0 0-0 0, Davis 0 0-0 0, Tamagini 0 0-0 0. Totals
17 5-10 47. POTTSVILLE (74) - Hughes-Crane 2 0-0 5, Montone 3 0-0 7, Sukeena 1 0-0
2, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Watkins 4 2-2 10, Bainbridge 1 0-0 2, Oswald 2 1-4 6, Bowers 3 0-0 7, McGinley 1 0-0 3, Alvarez 10 3-3
26, Flucker-White 3 0-3 6, Ivy 0 0-0 0, Yourey 0 0-0 0. Totals 30 6-12 74. Tam (2-3,
0-2);17;10;11;9;-;47 Potts (3-2, 2-0);25;16;15;18;-;74 3-point FGs:
Ansbach 3, Mateyak 3, Dillon 2, Hughes-Crane, Montone, Oswald, Bowers, McGinley, Alvarez 3 JV score:
Pottsville 69-15
Crimson Tide fall to Hazleton POTTSVILLE
- Hazleton Area survived an aggressive offensive surge by Pottsville in second half in a game that went wire-to-wire.
Luis Guzman netted a game-high 20 points and grabbed some key offensive rebounds as the Cougars thwarted the Crimson Tide
54-47 in a main event matchup Saturday evening at Martz Hall. "Luis played a great game," Hazleton Area
coach Pat Brogan said. "He's very talented offensively and defensively. "Most of our guys are upperclassmen,
so they've been through this. We wanted to play each possession one at a time and value each possession." Hazleton
Area (2-1) led 29-18 at halftime after a first half that saw the Cougars execute a master class on second-chance scoring opportunities.
Guzman grabbed four of Hazleton Area's seven first-half offensive boards. He scored six putbacks and Joey Marshall added
one as the Cougars collected eight early points on second chances. "Offensive rebounds killed us and we weren't
making shots," Pottsville coach Jake Wartella said. "We ended up being down at half, but the kids responded pretty
well. "The kids bought in to everything we said, they played hard and we're happy with the effort."
Things changed in the second half for the Crimson Tide (2-2). Letrel Montone led Pottsville's 7-0 scoring run
to start the third quarter. Montone netted two quick buckets and Christian Alvarez hit a 3-pointer as the Crimson Tide started
rolling. Suddenly the Cougars lead had shrunk to 29-25. Thalil Flucker-White took a charge to stop a Hazleton Area
fast break, but on its next possession Dylan Stish netted a 3-pointer to end the Cougars' scoring drought. Pottsville
maintained its intensity as the game went back and forth from there. Hazleton Area had a counter for everything Pottsville
threw at it. Montone drew an offensive foul, Derek Watkins added two free throws and Alvarez chipped in a steal followed
by a successful three-point play to narrow Hazleton's lead to 43-41. Bryant Diaz countered with a three for the Cougars,
before Chase Oswald netted a layup off an inbound play for the Tide as Hazleton Area remained ahead 46-43. Flucker-White
took another charge for Pottsville and Montone barreled through the lane for two points to bring the Crimson Tide within one.
Guzman nailed Hazleton's seventh 3-point field goal with 1:48 remaining to push the Cougars lead to 49-45. Watkins
added two more points for the Tide, who desperately needed a stop and momentum swirling bucket. Pottsville's defense
trapped Hazleton Area's Luke Gennaro and forced a Cougar timeout. After a missed field goal from Hazleton and a defensive
rebound by Alvarez, the Tide had their opportunity as the clock ticked under a minute. Alvarez and Montone each missed
on shots from beyond the arc and the Tide had to intentionally foul. Diaz and Guzman each went 2-for-2 in bonus free
throws as Hazleton successfully thwarted a game Tide squad. "We were a little rusty at times," Brogan said.
"We kind of let up a little bit, but it was a good game for us and a good win. Pottsville's a good team and very well
coached." Marshall finished with 13 points and Diaz added eight for the Cougars. For the Tide, Montone scored
a team-high 13 points, Alvarez added 12 and Watkins and Oswald each added nine. Pottsville was without senior starting
guard Kole Becker, leading to Flucker-White getting the start. Flucker-White he did not score, but did provide two key stops
and provided quality defense down the stretch against Hazleton's Marshall and Guzman. "I told our kids 'You can't
hang your head after a loss like that,' " Wartella said. We're proud of the effort and the way we played. It showed us
that we can compete with anyone on our schedule. It's going to go along way. "We have a fun group, the kids respond.
We're far from perfect, but we'll compete with anybody and play hard at all times."
Game Summary HAZLETON AREA (54) - Gennaro 2 2-4 7, Coste 0 0-2 0, Stish 3 0-0 6, S. Guzman
0 0-0 0, Saladin 0 0-0 0, Diaz 2 2-2 8, L. Guzman 8 2-2 20, Marshall 5 3-5 13, Reimold 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 9-15
54. POTTSVILLE (47) - Hughes-Crane 1 0-0 2, Montone 6 0-2 13, Watkins 3 2-2 9, Bainbridge
0 0-0 0, Oswald 3 3-4 9, Bowers 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 4 3-5 12, FLucker-White 0 0-0 0, Ivy 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 8-13
47. Haz (2-1);15;14;14;11;-;54 Potts (2-2);10;8;16;13;-;47
3-point FGs: Gennaro, Stish 2, Diaz 2, L. Guzman 2, Montone, Watkins, Alvarez
Crimson Tide Clips
The Cardinals
Pottsville 65, Pine Grove 37PINE GROVE - Christian Alvarez scored a game-high 16 points as Pottsville rolled past
Pine Grove in a Division I game. Derek Watkins had 12 points and Kole Becker added 11 for the Crimson Tide, which jumped
out to a 19-1 lead after the first quarter. Chase Sarge paced the Cardinals with nine points. POTTSVILLE
(65) - Crane 0 0-0 0, Montone 2 0-0 5, Becker 5 0-0 11, Sukeena 1 0-0 3, Herndon 0 0-2 0, Watkins 5 1-2 12,
Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Oswald 2 0-0 4, Bowers 1 0-0 3, McGinley 2 0-0 5, Alvarez 5 5-6 16, White 1 0-0 2, Ivy 2 0-0 4. Totals
25 6-10 65. PINE GROVE (37) - Sarge 4 0-0 9, O. Hannevig 3 1-1 7, Banonis 0 0-0 0, Schneck-Haines
0 0-0 0, D. Hannevig 2 3-4 7, Yeagley 0 0-0 0, Brommer 3 2-7 8, Etzweiler 0 0-0 0, Lyons 0 0-0 0, Snyder 3 0-0 6, Boyer 0
0-2 0. Totals 15 6-14 37. Potts (2-1, 1-0);19;11;18;17;-;65 PG
(0-3, 0-1);1;10;11;15;-;37 3-point FGs: Becker 3, Montone, Sukeena, Watkins, Bowers,
McGinley, Alvarez, Sarge JV score: Pottsville 59-31
Crimson Tide
Beats ELCO Christian
Alvarez scored 13 of his team high 19 points in the second half as the Crimson Tide topped the Raiders for their first victory
of the season. Letrel Montone added 12 points for Pottsville, which used a 17-12 run in the third quarter to take control. Pottsville (50) --
Montone 4 3-4 12, Becker 1 1-2 4, Watkins 4 1-3 9, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Oswald 2 0-2 4, Alvarez 7 5-6 19, Flucker-White 1 0-0
2 Totals 19 10-18 ELCO (45) Kiess 0 0-0 0, Schultz 2 1-2 7, Marquette 3 1-1 7, James 1 0-0 2, Hayes 0 0-0 0, Boyer 3 0-0 7, Leonard
1 0-0 2, Gray 6 4-4 19 Total: 16 6-7 45 Pottsville (1-1) 14 7 17 12 -- 50 ELCO: (0-1) 12 12 12 9 -- 45 3-point FG's: Montone,
Becker, Schultz James Boyer Gray 3 JV Score: Pottsville 55-42
Crimson Tide Falls To Wilson Wilson 59, Pottsville 35 ALLENTOWN -
Christian Alvarez collected a team-high 11 points as Pottsville fell to Wilson in a non-league game. Letrel Montone
and Derek Watkins each added eight points for the Crimson Tide. POTTSVILLE (35) - Montone 3 1-1
8, Becker 0 0-0 0, Bowers 1 0-0 3, Sukeena 0 0-0 0, Watkins 2 3-3 8, Bainbridge 1 0-0 3, Alvarez 4 2-3 11, Flucker-White 0
0-0 0. Totals 19 6-7 35. WISLON (59) - Wright 0 2-2 2, Gruber 4 4-4 12,
T. Hunsucker 2 0-0 2, Rullinger 2 0-0 2, Etim 7 1-2 11, Woods 0 0-2 0, Twinford 5 0-0 11, Green 1 0-0 3, Akings 2 1-2 7, C.
Hunsucker 3 0-0 6, Glover 1 0-0 2. Totals 33 8-12 59. Potts (0-1);11;3;12;9;-;35 Wil
(1-0);16;12;14;17;-;59 3-point FGs: Montone, Watkins, Bainbridge, Alvarez, Bowers
Nick Sukeena
Ronald Yourey
4
Chase Oswald
Kole Becker
Austin Oswald
0
0.00
0
Cory Pogash
Tsirell Curry
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Photo By Linsey Shuey - Pottsville Republican |
0
Congrats
To our Senior Players Rylen,
Amaree, TJ, Nick and Tyler
Crimson Tide Falls to the Eagles FOUNTAIN
SPRINGS - Isaac Thomas couldn't believe his luck. With 5:39 left in Friday's District 11 Class 4A boys' consolation
game at North Schuylkill High School, Thomas has just committed his fourth foul. Who knew at the time that the 6-foot-5
junior center would not only stay in the game, but lead the Eagles past a determined Pottsville team 62-57 in overtime?
"My dad emphasized discipline as much as he could tell me," Thomas said. "Keep my hands straight up. Don't
jump. Don't swipe at the ball." Thomas survived disqualification not only in regulation, but also in overtime
as Blue Mountain defeated the Crimson Tide. While the loss ended the Tide's campaign at 12-15, Blue Mountain (21-6),
the top seed entering districts, finished third and earned a spot in the PIAA Class 4A Tournament. The Eagles will oppose
District 12 runner-up Overbrook on Friday, March 10, at a time and site to be announced. It might take the week for
Blue Mountain head coach Dustin Werdt to relax after Friday's nail-biter against the Crimson Tide, a team the Eagles had defeated
twice earlier this season. "It's a playoff basketball game," Werdt said. "We talked about it before
the game that somebody's season is over tonight. Both teams played not wanting that to happen. You know, you've got to give
credit to Pottsville and how hard they played." Yet the Crimson Tide were never able to grab the lead in overtime.
Thomas, who finished with 18 points and 19 rebounds, broke the 52-52 tie with an inside bucket with 3:27 left in overtime.
Pottsville got no closer than one point, 55-54 and then 57-56, after that. Blue Mountain's Carson Kerstetter, who
had 18 points and nine rebounds, pulled the Eagles away from their 57-56 lead with two foul shots and then an old-fashioned
three-point play for a 60-56 edge. The Tide's Letrel Montone, who had 19 points, sank his first of two free throws
with 11.3 seconds left. Kerstetter grabbed the rebound of Montone's second foul shot and was fouled. He sank two free throws
for the final score. "It's tough to say right now," Pottsville head coach Jake Wartella said about the difference.
"But probably the little things. Missed some foul shots, didn't get some rebounds and loose balls. They found a way to
do the little things near the end, and we didn't." That included the disciplined effort of Thomas, who scored
12 second-half points while avoiding the dreaded fifth personal foul. "He played smart when he had his fourth
foul," Werdt said. "He didn't make any of his reaches (at opponents) that he does from time to time. He stayed vertical
on everything." Thomas scored two points during the Eagles' 12-1 run to start the game, but Pottsville rallied
after a timeout and led both at halftime and through the third quarter. "We were honestly worried that they might
run us out of the gym, and we said those exact words to the kids. We said we've got to wake up and play a little harder,"
Wartella said. "And the kids responded." Pottsvillle's Rylen Matlock, who had 12 points, converted a steal
with 17 seconds left to knot the score at 52-52 at the end of regulation. While disappointed, Wartella was heartened
by an effort that bodes well for the Crimson Tide's future despite a losing season. "We have some great young
kids coming up and and these seniors just did a great job laying the framework," he said. For the Eagles, Friday's
win means at least one more game, this time against one of Philadelphia basketball's storied names in Overbrook,. "We're
going to have to take care of the ball," Werdt said. "We turned the ball over way too much (against Pottsville)
and Overbrook's probably going to come out and full-court press us exponentially from what we saw tonight."
Game Summary District 11 Class 4A Consolation At North Schuylkill
POTTSVILLE (57) - Matlock 5 1-2 12, Mentone 6 5-10 19, Bainbridge 1 2-2 4, Allen 0 0-0 0, Chivinski
6 1-2 16, Oswald 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 2 2-2 6, Shappell 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 11-18 57. BLUE
MOUNTAIN (62) - Walasavage 0 0-0 0, Campbell 3 2-6 9, Kerstetter 4 10-14 18, A. Grace 0 0-0 0, Miller 4 4-4
13, R. Grace 0 0-0 0, Caulfield 1 1-2 4, Thomas 8 2-4 18. Totals 20 19-30 62. Potts
(12-15);8;20;14;10;5;-;57 BM (21-6);14;13;13;12;10;-;62 3-point FGs: Matlock,
Mentone 2, Chivinski 3, Campbell, Miller, Caulfield.
Crimson
Tide Plays Blue Mountain Eagles on Friday for State Playoff Berth at North Schuylkill Gym at 7:00
Crimson Tide Falls to Allentown Central Catholic WHITEHALL
- Rylen Matlock and Christian Alvarez scored 10 points apiece for sixth-seeded Pottsville, but No. 2 seed Allentown Central
Catholic defeated the Crimson Tide 58-33 on Tuesday in a District 11 Class 4A boys' basketball semifinal at Whitehall High
School. The Vikings dominated from the start, leading 21-2 after the first quarter and 42-6 at halftime. NaSean
Davis and Anthony Jones netted 12 points apiece to lead the Vikings. Pottsville's season will continue Friday in the
consolation game. Allentown Central Catholic advances to Friday's championship game. District 11 Class
4A Semifinal At Whitehall POTTSVILLE (33) - Matlock 3
3-6 10, Montone 1 0-0 2, Bainbridge 1 1-4 4, Chivinski 0 1-2 1, Alvarez 4 1-3 10, Allen 0 0-0 0, Shappell 0 0-0 0, Oswald
0 0-0 0, Curry 0 0-0 0, Watakins 1 0-0 3, Hughes-Crane 1 0-0 2, Flucker-White 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 6-13 33.
ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC (58) - Cook 0 0-0 0, Fridia 2 1-2 5, Spinosa 0 0-0 0, Puleri 2 0-0 5,
Davis 5 0-0 12, Jones 4 0-0 12, Patridge 0 0-0 0, Vigo 5 0-0 11, Mushrush 3 0-0 8, Ensley 0 0-0 0, H. Stewart-Smith 1 0-0
2, A. Stewart-Smith 1 0-0 3. Totals 23 1-2 58. Potts (12-14);2;4;11;16;-;33
ACC (19-8);21;21;9;7;-;58 3-point FGs: Matlock, Bainbridge, Alvarez, Watkins,
Hughes-Crane, Jones 4, Mushrush 2, Davis 2, Vigo, Puleri, A. Stewart-Smith
Crimson
Tide plays Allentown Central Catholic on Tuesday, February 28th at 7:00 pm.
Crimson Tide Rolls Over The Spartans ORWIGSBURG
- The fourth time proved to be the charm for Pottsville. With a 57-41 District 11 Class 4A boys' basketball quarterfinal
victory over Schuylkill League Division I rival North Schuylkill on Friday night at Blue Mountain, Pottsville advanced to
the semifinal round while the season for the Spartans comes to a close. Pottsville will meet No. 2 seed Allentown Central
Catholic, a 76-47 winner over Northwestern Lehigh, in Tuesday's semifinals with a berth in the District 11 final on the line. It
was the Tide's first victory this season over North Schuylkill after falling twice to the Spartans during the regular season
and again in the league semifinals at Martz Hall. And, as much as the fourth time proved to be the charm, so too did
the third quarter. Leading by two points at the halftime break, 25-23, the Crimson Tide (12-13) cut loose in the third
quarter. Opening with an 11-0 run, Pottsville outscored the Spartans 23-10 in the third, expanding the lead to 48-33 and taking
complete control of the game. North Schuylkill (20-5) never got closer the rest of the night. "We played
these guys three times this year, and each time they owned the third quarter on us," Pottsville coach Jake Wartella said.
"That was our message to them at the half. "We had to come out strong. The kids bought in. They stepped up
and made plays." The three-point arc proved to be a comfortable home for the Tide, hitting eight triples for the
game. Pottsville knocked down three of those during the third-quarter run that put them in command. Freshman Christian
Alvarez, who matched senior Nick Chivinski for team scoring honors with 15 points, started the run by burying one from the
top of the key to open the second half. Later, after North Schuylkill cut the deficit to 38-29, Chivinski and Tyler
Shappell each hit one from long range as the quarter closed. With the solid lead, the Tide defense never allowed the
Spartans to threaten over the final eight minutes. While the Pottsville offense found its stride in the third quarter,
North Schuylkill's never got on track. The Spartans' biggest output came with 13 points in the first quarter, but they never
scored more than 10 in any period after that. Shappell and Amaree Bainbridge followed the Tide's two scoring leaders
with eight and seven points, respectively. A pair of juniors, Jack Keiter and Zane Zulkowski, led North Schuylkill with
14 and 12 points, respectively. Joey Flail followed with nine. Pottsville also dominated the game on the boards. Chivinski
and Alvarez pulled down six rebounds apiece to lead the Tide to a 28-19 advantage in that department. Game SummaryDistrict
11 Class 4A Quarterfinal At Blue Mountain POTTSVILLE (57) - Matlock
2 0-0 4, Montone 2 1-2 5, Bainbridge 3 0-0 7, Chivinski 5 2-2 15, Oswald 1 0-0 3, Alvarez 7 0-0 15, Watkins 0 0-0 0, Shappell
3 0-0 8. Totals 23 3-4 57. NORTH SCHUYLKILL (41) - D. Miller 1 0-0 2, Maziekas
0 0-0 0, L. Miller 0 0-0 0, Keiter 6 0-0 14, Zulkowski 4 3-5 12, Dean 2 0-0 4, Flail 3 3-4 9. Totals 16 6-9 41. Potts
(12-13);14;11;23;7;-;57 NS (20-5);13;10;10;8;-;41 3-point FGs: Chivinski
3, Shappell 2, Bainbridge, Oswald, Alvarez, Keiter 2, Zulkowski
Crimson
Tide Plays North Schuylkill at 7:45 at Blue Mountain for First Round of District XI Basketball
Crimson Tide Falls to North Schuykill POTTSVILLE
- Pottsville's reign as Schuylkill League boys' basketball champion has come to an end. With a big second half, North
Schuylkill defeated Pottsville 63-49 in the first semifinal Wednesday night at Martz Hall. The Spartans (20-3) returned
to the boys' championship game for the first time since winning the title with a 42-25 victory over Williams Valley in 2009.
They will take on Blue Mountain, a 64-46 winner over Marian in the second semifinal, at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Martz Hall. Both
North Schuylkill basketball teams reached the Schuylkill League finals, with the Spartans girls taking on Marian at 6 p.m.
Friday at Martz Hall. Jack Keiter knocked down five 3-pointers and totaled a game-high 27 points to help the North Schuylkill
boys rally from a 32-25 halftime deficit to punch a ticket to the final. "This is what we practiced for all summer,"
Keiter said. The Spartans entered the fourth quarter with a 40-38 lead after outscoring the Crimson Tide 15-6 in the
third quarter. North Schuylkill's offense exploded when Keiter hit a triple from deep 3-point range. On the next Spartan possession,
Keiter added another three as the crowd at Martz Hall erupted. The Crimson Tide (11-13) added one point on a free throw
from Rylen Matlock before North Schuylkill added another 3-pointer on the following possession. This time it was Zane Zulkowski
with the long field goal, pushing the Spartans' lead to 50-41. Pottsville coach Jake Wartella used a timeout to regroup
with North Schuylkill surging. "I had the confidence to shoot it and I had the green light," Keiter said.
"I was feeling hot." North Schuylkill wasn't done yet. Zulkowski added six more points, Keiter added
four points and Joey Flail grabbed an offensive rebound and got the put-back to fall as the Spartans built a double-digit
lead. The Spartans also got the job done on the defensive end, holding the Crimson Tide to nine points in the final quarter. Game
SummarySchuylkill League Boys' Semifinal At Martz Hall POTTSVILLE
(49) - Matlock 5 2-6 14, Montone 2 2-2 7, Allen 0 0-2 0, Bainbridge 5 3-4 15, Chivinski 3 0-1 8, Alvarez 1 0-0
2, Oswald 0 0-0 0, Shappell 1 0-0 3. Totals 17 7-15 49. NORTH SCHUYLKILL (63) -
Keiter 9 4-5 27, Zulkowski 9 2-2 22, D. Miller 1 1-2 3, Dean 1 2-2 4, Flail 2 3-4 7, Zilker 0 0-0 0, Maziekas 0 0-0 0, L.
Miller 0 0-0 0, Cuthie 0 0-0 0, Mengel 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 12-15 63. Potts (11-13);11;21;6;11;-;49 NS
(20-3);15;10;15;23;-;63 3-point FGs: Matlock 2, Bainbridge 2, Chivinski 2, Montone, Shappell,
Keiter 5, Zulkowski 2
Crimson Tide Clips the Canes POTTSVILLE
- Pottsville set out to prove they belonged in the Schuylkill League boys' basketball playoffs Saturday night. That's
exactly what the Crimson Tide did. Relying on fundamental defense and second-chance opportunities, the defending champions
used a big second half to defeat Schuylkill Haven 59-49 in a quarterfinal contest at Martz Hall. Amaree Bainbridge scored
a game-high 16 points for Pottsville (11-12), which advances to play Division I champion North Schuylkill in Wednesday's semifinals
at 6 p.m. at Martz Hall. We aren't using the term ‘underdog'," Pottsville coach Jake Wartella said. "We
know we could have won some games we lost this year and we've tried to clean up our mistakes, but we're preaching ‘new-life.'
One game at a time, survive and advance and every other cliché you could think of. Our kids played hard out there."
Schuylkill Haven (18-5) controlled things early, leading 12-9 after one quarter and 26-21 at halftime. Midway
through the third quarter, Pottsville tied the game at 26-26 with a layup from Letrel Montone. On the following Crimson Tide
possession, the sophomore guard added three more points on a layup and free throw to give Pottsville its first lead since
the opening minutes of the game. The Crimson Tide defense went on to hold Schuylkill Haven to just eight points in the
third quarter and take a 36-34 lead heading to the fourth. Travis Richie grabbed an offensive rebound and scored
on a baseline layup to open the final quarter of play for Haven to tie the game again. Pottsville guard Nick Chivinski answered,
knocking down the first of two 3-pointers in the quarter. The game was tied at 40-40 before Pottsville took control. The
Crimson Tide went on three separate scoring runs in the fourth quarter and capitalized on free-throw attempts to keep the
game at two possessions. Both teams were in the bonus by the final minutes. Pottsville made 10-of-14 free throws in the fourth
quarter and put the game out of reach in the final minute of the game. For the Hurricanes, Leyden Hertz and Richie each
scored a team-high 14 points. Another key to Pottsville's success was second-chance opportunities, something the Crimson
Tide didn't capitalize on very often through the regular season. Pottsville grabbed 10 offensive rebounds and added 15 points
off those second chances. "That's something we've stressed at practice the last couple days because we don't
score so much," Wartella said. "We don't have the biggest kids in the world, we think we could steal some extra
buckets off offensive rebounds." The victory sets up a third meeting this season between the Tide and
Spartans, who won the first two meetings. "We've got something to play for and they (North Schuylkill) have something
to play for," Bainbridge said on facing the Spartans for a third time. "Let's play some gritty basketball." Game
SummarySchuylkill League Quarterfinal At Martz Hall POTTSVILLE
(59) - Matlock 5 2-5 12, Bainbridge 5 5-5 16, Allen 0 0-0 0, Chivinski 2 3-6 9, Montone 3 7-10 13, Alvarez 1
2-4 4, Shappell 1 3-3 5. Totals 17 22-33 59. SCHUYLKILL HAVEN (49) - Kuzanga
3 1-1 8, Richie 5 1-5 13, Jenan 1 1-2 3, Hertz 5 4-6 14, Sanders 1 0-0 3, Carl 2 2-3 7, Seven 0 0-0 0, Buletza 0 0-0 0. Totals
17 9-17 48.
Schuylkill League Basketball TournamentTips Off This SaturdayMartz Madness begins this weekend with the start
of the Schuylkill League Basketball Tournament. The Schuylkill League has announced the following schedule for the boys' and girls' basketball teams that will be competing
for the League Championship at Martz Hall in Pottsville. For the Quarterfinal and Semi Final Round all tickets
will be sold at the door with the following prices: - Adults $6 (No Senior Citizen Price)
- Students $3
For
the Finals, participating schools will sell advance tickets with the following prices: - Adults $6 (No Senior
Citizen Price)
- Students $3
All tickets at the door will be $6. Saturday, February 11th, 2023 -
Quarterfinals - 2:30pm - GIRLS - Pine Grove vs. Minersville
- 4:00pm - GIRLS - Blue
Mountain vs. Tri-Valley
- 5:30pm - BOYS - Blue Mountain vs. Tri-Valley or Mahanoy Area
- 7:00pm - BOYS - Pottsville
Area vs. Schuylkill Haven
Tuesday, February 14th, 2023 - Semifinals- 6:00pm - GIRLS - North Schuylkill
vs. Winner of Pine Grove/Minersville
- 7:30pm - GIRLS - Marian Catholic vs. Winner of Blue Mountain/Tri-Valley
Wednesday,
February 15th, 2023 - Semifinals- 6:00pm - BOYS - North Schuylkill vs. Winner of Pottsville Area/Schuylkill Haven
- 7:30pm
- BOYS - Marian Catholic vs. Winner of Blue Mountain vs. Tri-Valley/MahanoyArea
Friday, February 17th, 2023 -
Championship Night- 6:00pm - Girls Schuylkill League Championship
- 7:30pm - Boys Schuylkill League Championship
Crimson Tide Falls To North Schuylkill FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - Zane Zulkowski and Jack Dean both
scored in double figures as North Schuylkill clinched the Schuylkill League Division I title with a 51-46 victory over Pottsville
on Tuesday night. Zulkowski finished the night with a game-high 21 points. Dean scored six of his 11 in the fourth quarter
when the Spartans held off a Crimson Tide rally. Amaree Bainbridge paced Pottsville with 12 points, followed by Nick
Chivinski with 10. POTTSVILLE (46) - Matlock 1 6-7 8, Montone 1 0-0 2, Allen 0 1-2 1, Bainbridge
5 1-3 12, Chivinski 4 0-0 10, Oswald 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 3 1-2 8, Shappell 2 0-1 5. Totals 16 9-15 46. NORTH
SCHUYLKILL (51) - Zulkowski 6 8-13 21,Dean 3 4-8 11, Flail 3 2-6 8, Miller 2 0-0 4, Maziekas 2 0-1 5, Mengel
1 0-0 2. Totals 17 14-28 51. Potts (10-12, 7-7);9;16;5;16;-;46 NS
(18-3, 13-1);8;13;20;10;-;51 3-point FGs: Chivinski 2, Bainbridge, Alvarez, Shappell JV
score: Pottsville 48-25
Eagles Clip The Crimson Tide POTTSVILLE
- Blue Mountain attacked the rim and pounded the paint as the Eagles completed a season sweep over Pottsville on Friday night
at Martz Hall. Isaac Thomas scored a game-high 24 points as Blue Mountain started strong and rolled past Pottsville
65-50. North Schuylkill defeated Jim Thorpe 56-33 on Friday night to stay one game ahead of Blue Mountain in the Division
I standings. Both teams have qualified for the Schuylkill League playoffs, but the division title has not yet been decided. "I
was feeling good out there," Thomas said. "I wanted the ball inside, that's where I work." With
the win, Blue Mountain made it two in row over the Crimson Tide. The Eagles took the first matchup this season 45-33 at Blue
Mountain High School. "Whenever you get a chance to sweep your rival it's a big deal," Blue Mountain coach
Dustin Werdt said. The Eagles controlled the game from the start, going on a 12-0 run after the Crimson Tide's Rylen
Matlock scored the opening points, giving Blue Mountain an early 12-2 lead. Blue Mountain outscored Pottsville 18-7,
with Thomas adding 11 of his 24 points in the first quarter. The Eagles stuck to their game plan and relentlessly attacked
the paint, resulting in the Crimson Tide finding themselves in foul trouble midway through the second quarter. "I've
been working on my free throws a lot lately," Thomas said. That's one thing Coach has been emphasizing at practice and
I wanted to get my percentage up." Thomas shot 4-for-6 from the free-throw line in the first half, while teammate
Carson Kerstetter shot 3-for-3. With the free throws adding to its lead, Blue Mountain led at the half 33-17. The second
half saw a different Crimson Tide approach. Pottsville attempted to match Blue Mountain's aggressiveness in the paint
and get out in front of fast-breaks in an attempt to catch up. "I'm proud of the way our kids fought back in the
second half," Pottsville coach Jake Wartella said. We dug too deep of a hole early, and we can't do that against a good
team like this." Trailing by 16 points, the Crimson Tide's offense slowly gained life as Christian Alvarez, Tyler
Shappell and Nick Chivinski added 3-point field goals in the third quarter. While Pottsville's offense was just heating
up, Blue Mountain maintained the same aggressive presence thoughout the quarter and outscored the Crimson Tide 17-15. With
the Eagles leading 50-32 going into the fourth quarter, the Crimson Tide kept playing to the bitter end with Alvarez adding
two more 3-pointers and Letrel Montone scoring six of his 11 points in the fourth quarter. Pottsville outscored the Eagles
18-15, but Blue Mountain was never threatened. Chivinski added 10 points for the Crimson Tide. For the Eagles,
Carson Kerstetter scored 20 points and Brogan Campbell added 10 points. Game SummaryBLUE
MOUNTAIN (65) - Walasavage 0 0-0 0, Campbell 2 5-6 10, Brayford 0 0-0 0, Kerstetter 7 6-8 20, A. Grace 0 0-0
0, Miller 2 3-4 7, R. Grace 1 0-0 2, Caulfield 1 0-0 2, Thomas 8 8-12 24. Totals 21 22-30 65. POTTSVILLE
(50) - Matlock 2 4-6 8, Allen 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 1 3-4 5, Chivinski 3 1-2 10, Shappell 1 0-0 3, Becker 1 0-0
3, Oswald 0 1-2 1, Montone 5 1-2 11, Alvarez 3 0-0 9, Watkins 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 10-16 50. BM
(16-5, 11-2);18;15;17;15;-;65 Potts (10-11, 7-6);7;10;15;18;-;50 3-point FGs: Campbell,
Chivinski 3, Alvarez 3, Shappell, Becker JV score: Pottsville 50-37
Crimson Tide Loses To The PanthersPanther Valley 50, Pottsville
37 LASFORD - Drew Kokinda and Chase Weaver scored 11 points each, leading the Panthers past the Crimson Tide in a Division
I matchup and clinching a berth in the District 11 Class 3A playoffs. Michael Pascoe chipped in with nine points for
Panther Valley. Amaree Bainbridge paced Pottsville with 11 points. Rylen Matlock added eight. POTTSVILLE
(37) - Matlock 3 2-2 8, Becker 0 0-0 0, Montone 0 0-0 0, Allen 1 0-0 2, Bainbridge 2 6-8 11, Chivinski 2 1-1
6, Oswald 0 1-2 1, Alvarez 2 0-0 4, Watkins 0 0-0 0, Shappell 1 0-0 3, Flucker-White 1 0-0 2. Totals 12 10-13
37. PANTHER VALLEY (50) - B. Hood 1 0-0 3, Pascoe 4 1-2 9, S. Hood 2 2-2 6, Kokinda 3
2-2 11, Weaver 4 3-4 11, Hadley 0 0-0 0, Fisher 0 0-0 0, Goida 1 0-0 2, Jones 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 8-11 50. Potts
(10-10, 7-5);6;11;9;11;-;37 PV (11-8, 4-8);5;18;14;13;-;50 3-point FGs: Bainbridge,
Chivinski, Shappell, Kokinda 3, Buyce 2 JV score: Pottsville 60-43
Crimson Tide Falls To Palmyra Palmyra 53,
Pottsville 39 POTTSVILLE - Nick Chivinski scored a team-high 10 points as Pottsville dropped a non-league matchup to
Palmyra at Martz Hall. The Crimson Tide and Cougars were tied at 26 at halftime, but Palmyra pulled ahead, outscoring
Pottsville 27-13 in the second half. PALMYRA (53) - Petrino 0 0-0 0, Burgess 1 2-2 4, Mayes 0
0-0 0, Sammen 2 0-0 6, Weaber 0 0-0 0, Dorty 5 3-3 14, Roesch 6 0-0 15, Beckes 6 2-3 14. Totals 20 7-8 53. POTTSVILLE
(39) - Matlock 4 0-0 9, Allen 2 1-1 5, Bainbridge 0 0-4 0, Chivinski 4 0-0 10, Becker 1 0-0 3, Oswald 0 0-0
0, Alvarez 2 1-2 5, Shappell 3 1-2 7. Totals 16 3-9 39. Palm (10-9);16;10;6;7;-;39 Potts
(10-9);9;17;18;9;-;53 3-point FGs: Sammen 2, Dorty, Roesch 3, Matlock, Chivinski 2, Becker JV
score: Pottsville 55-42
Crimson Tide Rolls To VictoryPOTTSVILLE
- Rylen Matlock scored 14 points, and Nick Chivinski added 13 as the Crimson Tide rolled past the Indians in a Division I
contest. Owen Serfoss scored seven points to lead Lehighton. LEHIGHTON (29) - Hawk
0 0-0 0, Light 2 0-0 5, Serfoss 1 5-6 7, Johnson 1 0-0 2, Roth 3 0-0 6, Dietz 2 0-0 6, Blauch 0 1-2 1, Smith 0 0-0 0, Acosta
0 0-0 0, Roberts 1 0-0 2. Totals 10 6-8. POTTSVILLE (56) - Matlock 6 1-2
14, Allen 1 1-1 3, Bainbridge 2 0-0 5, Chivinski 4 2-2 13, Becker 1 0-0 3, Oswald 0 2-2 2, Alvarez 2 0-0 4, Shappell 3 2-3
8, Watkins 1 0-0 2, Pogash 0 0-0 0, Curry 0 0-0 0, Hughes-Crane 0 0-0 0, Flucker-White 0 2-2 2. Totals 20 10-12
56. Leh (8-11, 3-8);6;8;10;5;-;29 Potts (10-8, 7-4);11;16;15;14;-;56 3-point
FGs: Dietz 2, Light, Chivinski 3, Matlock, Bainbridge, Becker JV score: Pottsville 49-24
Crimson Tide Wins Big Game POTTSVILLE
- Pottsville started off the game slow and hesitant. The Crimson Tide changed that tune in the second half, producing
a key victory to keep its Schuylkill League playoff hopes alive. Christian Alvarez stepped up off the bench and scored
a team-high 13 points as Pottsville defeated Jim Thorpe 49-42 in a Schuylkill League boys' basketball Division I matchup Tuesday
night at Martz Hall. The victory gives the Crimson Tide (9-8, 6-4 D-I) a two-game lead over Jim Thorpe (8-10, 4-6) -
and a season sweep over the Olympians - in the race for the third and final league playoff spot from Division I. "We
were upset about our start," Pottsville coach Jake Wartella said. "It was a horrible first quarter on both ends
of the ball." Jim Thorpe outscored the Crimson Tide 13-5 in the first quarter with Andrew Warner knocking down
an early 3-pointer and totaling seven of his game-high 18 points. Frustrations were evident early for the Crimson Tide
as Rylen Matlock received a technical foul. Warner tallied five points off a 3-pointer and an and-one layup off a screen from
Noah Rosahac, quickly giving Jim Thorpe a 7-3 lead. "It killed me knowing this was one of the biggest games,"
Matlock said of his technical foul. Coming into the second quarter trailing the Olympians 13-5, Nick Chivinski found
Kole Becker cutting through the lane for a layup to give the Crimson Tide's offense some life. Warner immediately answered
on the following possession with another 3-pointer for the Olympians. The fouls began pouring in on both sides and free-throw
shooting became increasingly important to Pottsville's chances of evening the score. "When I go to practice I shoot
free throws everyday," said Pottsville's Amaree Bainbridge, who was 4-for-7 from the line and finished with 10 points. After
an offensive rebound and put-back layup from Alvarez, the momentum started swinging in the Crimson Tide's direction. Pottsville
shot 4-of-5 at the free throw line and ended the second quarter outscoring the Olympians 13-8, slicing Jim Thorpe's lead to
21-18 at halftime. Pottsville opened the second half on a 7-0 run, all by Matlock, to take a 25-21 lead. Benjamin Goldberg
then found Noah Rosahac weaving through the lane to get the Olympians on the board for the first time in the second half. The
Crimson Tide's depth proved to be a difference-maker as Chase Oswald found Alvarez all alone in the paint for an easy layup
before adding two points of his own on the next Pottsville possession. Alvarez added seven of his 13 points in the third quarter
and the Crimson Tide forged a 39-28 lead after three periods. "Our kids had to attack the rim. Once we saw the
ball go in the hoop a few times I think it sparked us," Wartella said. The Olympians were in deep foul trouble,
racking up eight fouls by the beginning of the fourth quarter. Pottsville took advantage by making eight trips to the line,
tallying eight points off 12 attempts. Goldberg knocked down two 3-pointers and Warner added six points in the final minutes
to get Jim Thorpe close, but the Crimson Tide played keep-away and rode the clock all the way to zero. "We played
hard," Jim Thorpe coach Jason McElmoyle said. "We've been in this position before, we're motivated, so we just got
to keep staying with the game plan." Jim Thorpe and Pottsville were both missing key players due to injury. The
Crimson Tide was down their primary ball-handler, Letrel Montone, with a hand injury, while the Olympians were without their
leading scorer from a season ago, Kaiden Herron, who is out with a knee injury. Game SummaryJIM
THORPE (42) - Spruill 2 1-2 5, Warner 7 2-4 18, Goldberg 3 0-0 8, DiSanto 0 0-0 0, McHugh 0 0-0 0, Barile 0
2-2 2, Rosahac 3 3-3 9. Totals 25 8-11 42. POTTSVILLE (49) - Matlock 3 2-2
9, Allen 2 0-2 4, Bainbridge 3 4-7 10, Chivinski 1 4-6 7, Becker 1 0-0 2, Oswald 1 0-0 2, Alvarez 3 6-8 13, Shappell 0 2-2
2, Watkins 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 18-27 49. JT (8-10, 4-6);13;8;7;14;-;42 Potts
(9-8, 6-4);5;13;21;10;-;49 3-point FGs: Warner 2, Goldberg 2, Matlock, Chivinski, Alvarez JV
score: Pottsville 43-28
Crimson Tide Falls To Tamaqua Tamaqua 51,
Pottsville 46 POTTSVILLE - Connor Dillon drained six 3-pointers and scored a game-high 18 points as Tamaqua knocked
off Pottsville in a Division I contest at Martz Hall. The loss dropped Pottsville (8-8, 5-4) just one game ahead of
Jim Thorpe (7-9, 4-5) for the third and final playoff berth in Division I. The Tide and Olympians meet Tuesday at Martz Hall. Dillon
scored all of his points in the first half as Tamaqua (7-9, 3-6) built a 29-22 halftime advantage. Noah Mateyak then hit a
pair of 3-pointers and two key free throws in the fourth quarter as the Blue Raiders held off a Crimson Tide rally. Mateyak
finished with 13 points for Tamaqua. Rylen Matlock scored 15 points and Nick Chivinski added 10 for Pottsville. TAMAQUA
(51) - Ansbach 1 0-0 2, Lewis 1 0-2 2, Mateyak 4 2-2 13, Klein 0 0-0 0, Milot 2 2-2 6, Kane 1 1-2 3, Dillon
6 0-0 18, Ligenza 3 1-6 7, Andrews 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 6-14 51. POTTSVILLE (46) -
Matlock 6 2-4 15, Montone 1 4-4 6, Allen 1 0-1 2, Bainbridge 2 1-2 6, Chivinski 4 0-0 10, Becker 0 0-0 0, Oswald 0 0-0 0,
Alvarez 3 0-0 7. Totals 17 7-11 46. Tam (7-9, 3-6);10;19;7;15;-;51 Potts
(8-8, 5-4);13;9;11;13;-;46 3-point FGs: Dillon 6, Mateyak 3, Matlock, Bainbridge, Chivinski
2, Alvarez JV score: Pottsville 50-33
Crimson Tide Loses In Overtime Pine
Grove 47, Pottsville 41, OT PINE GROVE - Tied at 36-36 at the end of regulation, the Cards outscored the Tide 11-5
in the extra period to record the Division I victory. Garrett Brandt poured in 23 points to lead Pine Grove, with
Josh Tobin following with 10. Tobin scored four in the overtime period. For Pottsville, Letrel Montone led the way
with 14 points. Rylen Matlock contributed 10. POTTSVILLE (41) - Matlock 4 2-3 10, Becker 2 1-2
7, Montone 4 5-9 14, Allen 0 0-1 0, Bainbridge 1 0-0 3, Chivinski 1 0-0 3, Oswald 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 2 0-0 4. Totals
14 8-15 41. PINE GROVE (47) - Tobin 4 2-2 10, Brandt 9 3-4 23, Unger 4 0-0 8, Skocik
1 2-5 4, Kohr 0 1-2 1, Sarge 0 1-3 1, Brommer 0 0-0 0, Snyder 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 9-16 47. Potts
(8-7, 5-3);11;4;13;8;5;-;41 PG (4-11, 2-6);12;8;8;8;11;-;47 3-point FGs: Becker
2, Montone, Bainbridge, Chivinski, Brandt 2
Crimson Tide Wins a Thriller In Triple Overtime JIM THORPE - Amaree Bainbridge turned in a
big performance after regulation ended to lead Pottsville to a 55-53, triple-overtime Schuylkill League Division I boys' basketball
victory over Jim Thorpe on Saturday. Bainbridge scored 12 of his 16 points in the extra periods to spark the Tide, which
maintained its spot in third place in the Division I standings, one game behind co-leaders Blue Mountain and North Schuylkill.
Nick Chivinski added 15 points and Letrel Montone tallied 10 for Pottsville, which connected on 12 3-pointers. Andrew
Warner and Noah Rosahac scored 16 points apiece and Ben Goldberg netted 11 for Jim Thorpe, which led 25-22 after three quarters. POTTSVILLE
(55) - Matlock 0 2-4 2, Montone 4 0-1 10, Allen 1 2-2 4, Bainbridge 4 5-10 16, Chivinski 5 0-0 15, Becker 2
0-0 6, Oswald 1 0-2 2, Shappell 0 0-1 0. Totals 17 9-20 55. JIM THORPE (53) -
Spruill 0 7-9 7, Warner 3 9-10 16, Goldberg 5 1-2 11, DiSanto 0 0-0 0, McHugh 0 0-0 0, Barile 1 0-0 3, Selby 0 0-0 0, Rosahac
6 4-6 16. Totals 15 21-27 53. Potts (8-6, 5-2);6;11;5;14;6;5;8;-;55 JT
(5-9, 2-5);8;11;6;11;6;5;6-;53 3-point FGs: Montone 2, Bainbridge 3, Chivinski 5, Becker
2, Barile, Warner,
Spartans Slip By Crimson Tide North
Schuylkill 52, Pottsville 49 POTTSVILLE - Zane Zulkowski scored a game-high 20 points as North Schuylkill edged Pottsville
in a Division I contest. Jack Keiter and Joey Flail both totaled 13 points for the Spartans in the win. For the
Crimson Tide, Letrel Montone scored a team-high 13 points, Rylen Matlock added 12 points and Nick Chivinski finished with
10 points. NORTH SCHUYLKILL (52) - Keiter 4 4-6 13, Zulkowski 6 8-11 20, D. Miller 1 2-2 4, Dean
0 2-4 2, Flail 5 3-5 13, L. Miller 0 0-0 0, Maziekas 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 19-28 52. POTTSVILLE
(49) - Matlock 3 5-8 12, Montone 3 6-9 13, Allen 2 0-0 4, Bainbridge 1 3-9 5, Chivinski 4 1-1 10, Becker 0 0-0
0, Oswald 1 1-2 3, Shappell 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 16-27 49. NS (9-2, 6-1);10;13;10;18;-;52 Potts
(8-3, 4-2);8;14;19;8;-;49 3-point FGs: Keiter, Matlock, Montone, Chivinski JV
score: Pottsville 52-31
Crimson Tide Loses To Eagles ORWIGSBURG
- Blue Mountain made a difference at the foul line and it paid off in the end. The Eagles capitalized on free-throw
opportunities, hitting 13-of-17 attempts, to drop Pottsville 45-33 in a Schuylkill League Division I boys' basketball clash
Monday night. Carson Kerstetter scored a game-high 21 points for the Eagles, who dealt the Tide their first league setback.
Blue Mountain (10-3, 5-1 D-I) and North Schuylkill (8-2, 5-1), a 59-28 winner over Jim Thorpe, both sit at 5-1 atop the Division
I standings with Pottsville (7-5, 4-1) one game back. "We made that a point at practice to emphasize free-throw
shooting," Kerstetter said. Free-throw shooting was imperative for both the Crimson Tide and the Eagles as they
both found themselves in foul trouble throughout the game. In the first half Blue Mountain committed 11 fouls, while
Pottsville was whistled for nine. Brogan Campbell made the most of his opportunities early, shooting a perfect 4-for-4
from the free-throw line before halftime. Kerstetter cashed in on two free throws to make the Eagles a perfect 6-for-6 in
the first two quarters of play. The Crimson Tide couldn't match Blue Mountain's lights-out shooting from
the charity stripe, only knocking down 4-of-6 free throws with Latrel Montone collecting all four made free throws for Pottsville. Blue
Mountain (10-3, 5-1 D-I) flipped the script in the second half, only committing seven fouls, while Pottsville (7-5, 4-1 D-I)
was called for 11. Blue Mountain pounced on the opportunity to pour it on Pottsville. In the second half the Eagles
made 7-of-11 free throw opportunities, with Campbell making 4-of-5 and Kerstetter splitting 3-of-6. The Crimson Tide shot
a combined 3-for-4 in the second half from the free-throw line. Campbell finished with 18 points for Blue Mountain,
with eight of his points coming from free throws. "A big problem with our team has been our free-throw shooting,"
Campbell said. "For me, Carson and the rest of the team to put them down tonight was a big deal." The Eagles
took a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the second quarter is when Blue Mountain thrived. Campbell weaved through
Pottsville's defense on multiple possessions and scored six points, Kerstetter added four points on two jumpers and Issac
Thomas totaled four points in the second quarter for the Eagles. After outscoring the Tide 16-9 in the second quarter, Blue
Mountain pushed its lead to 26-16 at halftime. The Eagles controlled the pace of the second half, drawing fouls and
scoring on second-chance opportunities. Pottsville played aggressive, forcing nine Blue Mountain turnovers in the second half,
but couldn't capitalize. "We created turnovers, but we have to find a way to turn them into points on the other
end," Pottsville coach Jake Wartella said. "Hats off to Blue Mountain, they played really hard tonight." Blue
Mountain snaps a three-game losing skid and reclaims the top spot in Division I with its win over Pottsville. "You
can't take any team for granted in this league," Blue Mountain coach Dustin Werdt said. "It's the next team approach
for us, you need to be ready for the next team." Game SummaryPOTTSVILLE (33) - Matlock
4 0-0 8, Becker 0 0-1 0, Montone 3 4-4 11, Allen 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 2 1-4 6, Chivinski 2 2-2 8, Oswald 0 0-0 0, Shappell
0 0-0 0. Totals 11 7-11 33. BLUE MOUNTAIN (45) - Walasavage 0 0-0 0, Campbell
5 8-9 18, Brayford 0 0-0 0, Kerstetter 8 5-8 21, A. Grace 0 0-0 0, Miller 0 0-0 0, R. Grace 1 0-0 2, Caulfield 0 0-0 0, Thomas
2 0-0 4. Totals 16 13-17 45. Potts (7-5, 4-1);7;9;8;9;-;33 BM (10-3,
5-1);10;16;8;11;-;45 3-point FGs: Montone, Bainbridge, Chivinski 2 JV score: Pottsville
44-33
Pottsville defeats Panther ValleyPOTTSVILLE - Rylen
Matlock paced a trio of Pottsville players in double figures as the Crimson Tide rolled to a 65-50 Schuylkill League Division
I victory over Panther Valley at Martz Hall. Matlock closed with 16 points for the Tide which rolled out to a 21-7 lead
after a quarter and never looked back. Letrel Montone followed with 15 points, and Tyler Shappell added 14. For Panther
Valley, Chase Weaver led the scoring with 10 points. Brad Hood followed with nine. PANTHER VALLEY (50) -
B. Hood 3 0-0 9, Pascoe 2 2-4 6, S. Hood 2 3-4 7, Kokinda 2 1-2 7, Weaver 3 3-3 10, Hadley 0 5-6 5, Orsulak 0 0-0 0, Goida
2 0-1 4, Fisher 1 0-0 2, Jones 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 14-20 50. POTTSVILLE (65) -
Matlock 5 3-6 16,Montone 5 4-5 15, Allen 2 0-0 4, Bainbridge 1 2-2 4, Chivinski 3 0-0 9, Oswald 1 0-0 2, Shappell 5 3-4 14. Totals
22 12-17 65. PV (7-3, 2-3);7;14;14;15;-;50 Potts (7-4, 4-0);21;16;13;15;-;65 3-point
FGs: B. Hood 3, Kokinda 2, Weaver, Montone 3, Chivinski 3, Matlock 2, Shappell JV score: Pottsville
57-40
Tide Loses to Berks CatholicBerks Catholic 70, Pottsville 35 READING
- Amaree Bainbridge and Christian Alvarez scored six points apiece for Pottsville in a non-league loss to unbeaten Berks Catholic. Ryan
Koch had 19 points for the Saints, who opened the game with a 19-2 run. POTTSVILLE (35) - Matlock
1 2-2 5, Montone 1 0-0 2, Allen 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 1 3-6 6, Chivinski 1 2-4 5, Becker 1 0-0 3, Pogash 0 0-0 0, Oswald 1 0-0
2, Alvarez 3 0-0 6, Watkins 0 0-0 0, Shappell 1 0-0 3, Hughes-Crane 1 0-0 3. Totals 11 7-12 35. BERKS
CATHOLIC (70) - Dominguez 2 0-0 4, Nein 1 0-0 3, Gaffney 0 0-0 0, Geddio 0 0-0 0, Jordon 2 0-0 4, Koch 7 1-2
19, Miller 3 0-0 8, Lawlor 0 2-2 2, Komoro 1 0-0 2, J. McKoy 3 0-0 7, K. McKoy 3 0-0 7, Altimar 1 0-0 3, Diaz 3 0-0 6. Totals
28 3-4 70. Potts (6-4);2;10;12;11;-;35 BC (9-0);19;15;21;15;-;70 3-point
FGs: Matlock, Bainbridge, Chivinski, Becker, Shappell, Hughes-Crane, Koch 4, Miller 2, K. McKoy 2, Nein, J.
McKoy, Altimar JV score: Berks Catholic 39-33
Crimson Tide Wins ThrillerPottsville 32, Shamokin 31POTTSVILLE
- Nick Chivinski scored a team-high 10 points as Pottsville narrowly slipped past Shamokin in a non-league game at Martz Hall. Rylen
Matlock and Latrel Montone both added nine points for the Crimson Tide, but it was Tejay Allen who scored his only basket
when the Tide needed it most. Allen hit the go-ahead layup with five seconds remaining in the game to give Pottsville the
win. The Crimson Tide defense didn't allow a single point in the fourth quarter, opening the door for the 11-0 scoring
run. Pottsville secured the comeback win after trailing 31-21 after the third quarter. SHAMOKIN (31) -
Price 3 0-1 7, Hile 3 0-0 7, Mattern 1 0-0 2, Delbaugh 0 0-0 0, Annis 0 0-0 0, Litchy 2 0-3 4, Shuey 5 1-1 11, Leiby 0 0-0
0. Totals 14 1-5 31. POTTSVILLE (32) - Matlock 4 0-0 9, Becker 0 0-0 0,
Montone 3 2-2 9, Allen 1 0-0 2, Chivinski 4 0-2 10, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Oswald 1 0-0 2, Shappell 0 0-0 0. Totals
13 2-4 32. Sham ;11;11;9;0;-;31 Potts (6-3);4;6;11;11;-;32 3-point
FGs: Price, Hile, Matlock, Montone, Chivinski 2 JV score: Pottsville 52-41
Crimson Tide Falls To Williamsport Rylen Matlock led the Tide with 10 points as Pottsville dropped a non-league mathup to Williamsport. Thomas Tokach
paced the Millionaires with 17 points. Caleb Fausnaught added 12 points for Williamsport. Williamsport (65) Harden 3 0-0 7, Lake 3 0-0 8, Holt 1 0-0 2, Kline 2 1-1 5, Whaley 3 1-1 7, Fausnaught 5 2-2 12,
Johnson 1 0-0 2, Tokack 5 5-7 17, White 1 0-0 3, Bradshaw 1 2-2 4, Lowe 0 0-0 0 Totals: 25 11-13 65 Pottsville (24) Matlock 4 2-3 10, Montone 0 0-0 0, Allen 1 1-2 3, Bainbridge 0 1-2 1, Chivinski 1 0-0 2, Becker 0
0-0 0, Oswald 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 0 0-0 0, Watkins 1 0-0 3, Shappell 1 2-2 5 Totals 8 6-9 24 Williamsport (5-1) 12 15 26
12 -- 65 Pottsville (5-3) 4
4 9 7 -- 24 3-point FGs - Harden,
Lake 2, White, Watkins, Shappell JV Score Williamsport 66 - 64 OT
Crimson Tide Clips The Indians Pottsville
45, Lehighton 38 LEHIGHTON - Rylen Matlock led a trio of Pottsville players in double figures, scoring 13 in the Division
I victory over the Indians. Also for Pottsville, Nick Chivinski added 11 points and Amaree Bainbridge had 10.
For Lehighton, Joe Roth scored 13, with Brayden Johnson contributing 10. POTTSVILLE (45) -
Mtlock 2 9-15 13, Becker 0 0-0 0, Montone 1 1-2 3, Allen 2 0-0 4, Bainbridge 3 2-4 10, Chivinski 3 3-3 11, Oswald 0
0-0 0, Shappell 2 0-0 4. Totals 13 15-24 45. LEHIGHTON (38) - Light 1
0-0 2, Serfass 0 2-3 2, Johnson 4 1-2 10, Smith 1 0-0 3, Roth 6 1-4 13, Dietz 3 1-2 8. Totals 15 5-11 38.
Potts (5-2, 3-0);12;13;6;14;-;45 Leh (3-5, 1-3);6;13;8;11;-;38 3-point
FGs: Chivinski 2, Bainbridge, Johnson, Smith, Dietz.
Crimson Tide Deafeats NW
Lehigh Rylen Matlock scored 21 points
and Amaree Bainbridge followed with 15 points as the Crimson Tide scored a non-league vidtory over the Tigers at Martz Hall NW Lehigh (48) - Fitch 4 3-4 12, Zimmerman 2 0-0 6, Bollinger
2 2-4 6, Kozlowski 0 0-0 0, Nelson 6 8-9 22, Warbold 0 2-2 2 Totals: 14 15-19 48 Pottsville
(55) - Matlock 9 0-1 21, Becker 0 0-0 0, Montone 0 3-5 3, Allen 1 1-3 3, Bainbridge 5 2-2 15, Chivinski 1 0-0 3, Shappell
3 0-2 6, Oswald 2 0-0 4 Totals: 21 5-13 55 NWL (3-4) 5 7 21 15 -- 48 Pottsville
(4-2) 17 11 12 15 -- 55 3-point FGs - Nelson 2, Bollinger
2, Fitch, Matlock 3, Bainbridge 3, Chivinski JV Score - Pottsville 52 - 36
Crimson Tide Defeats The Blue Raiders Pottsville
50, Tamaqua 42
TAMAQUA - Nick Chivinski paced a trio of double-digit scorers with 14 points as the Tide
rallied past the Blue Raiders in a Division I contest. Tejay Allen added 13 points and Rylen Matlock tallied 11 for
Pottsville, which outscored Tamaqua 32-18 in the second half to grab the win. Noah Mateyak hit four 3-pointers and scored
12 points, and Connor Dillon netted 10 points for the Blue Raiders, who used an 11-4 run in the second quarter to build a
24-18 halftime lead. POTTSVILLE (50) - Palko 1 2-2 4, Matlock 5 1-3 11, Montone 1 0-0 2,
Allen 5 3-4 13, Bainbridge 2 0-1 4, Chivinski 5 3-3 14, Shappell 1 0-2 2. Totals 20 9-15 50. TAMAQUA
(42) - Ansbach 0 0-0 0, Lewis 1 1-2 3, Mateyak 4 0-0 12, Klein 0 0-0 0, Milot 3 1-3 7, Kane 1 0-0 3, Dillon
4 2-2 10, Ligenza 3 1-1 7, Andrews 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 5-8 42. Potts (3-2, 2-0);14;4;14;18;-;50 Tam
(0-4, 0-2);13;11;6;12;-;42 3-point FGs: Chivinski, Mateyak 4, Kane JV score:
Pottsville 52-32
Hazleton Downs The Tide 52 - 30 Amree Bainbridge scored eight points as Pottsville was defeated by Hazleton Area in a non-league matchup. Also for
the Crimson Tide, Tejay Allen scored seven points and Nick Chivinski scored five points. Pottsville (30) -- Matlock 1 0-0 2, Becker 0 0-0 0, Montone 1
0-0 2, Allen 3 1-1 7, Bainbridge 3 0-1 8, Chivinski 2 0-0 5, Oswald 1 0-0 2, Alvarez 0 0-0 0, Watkins 0 0-0 0, Shappell 0
0-0 0, Totals: 13 1-2 30 Hazleton Area (52) -- Catrone 3 0-0 7, Generro 6 0-0
14, Marshall 3 0-0 7, Guzman 3 0-0 7, Caste 3 0-2 7, Santiago 1 0-0 2, Rossi 2 2-3 6, Headley 0 0-0 0, Melaciano 1 0-0 2,
Totals 22 3-5 52 Pottsville
(2-2) 8 9 9 4 -- 30 Hazleton
(2-1) 10 9 17 17 -- 52 3-point FG's Bainbridge 2, Chiviniski JV Score Pottsville 35-32 OT
Crimson Tide Clips The Cardinals POTTSVILLE
- The Pottsville boys' basketball team has a lot of depth. That proved to be a game-changer in the Crimson Tide's Schuylkill
League Division I opener Thursday night at Martz Hall. Rylen Matlock scored 14 points and Tyler Shappell added nine
points off the bench as Pottsville surged past Pine Grove 58-31. The Crimson Tide's Joey Palko won the opening tip,
but after a quick turnover and a 10-foot jumper from Brandon Unger it was quickly 2-0 Pine Grove. Matlock saved Pottsville
from another turnover on their next possession. The senior guard made a highlight-reel play diving out of bounds as he found
Nick Chivinski all alone under the hoop for an easy two points. The quick scoring fizzled out even faster than it began
until three Cardinals possessions later when Unger nailed his first 3-pointer of the night. Pottsville gave it right
back as Matlock knocked down a triple of his own, but Unger immediately answered back with another long three, giving the
Cardinals a 10-8 lead. "Every game this year we came out with effort," Pine Grove coach Jordan Lehman said
about his squad. "We might be 0-3, but as far as effort, I can't complain about our team at all." With the
Pine Grove answering the call early, Pottsville coach Jake Wartella was instructing junior Letrel Montone to turn up the intensity. Montone
went to work running the offense as he found Matlock all alone at the top of the key for another triple. On the following
Cardinal possession, Montone and Chivinski successfully forced a turnover, but Pottsville couldn't find points as Killian
Skocik blocked the Crimson Tide's attempt Game Summary PINE GROVE (31) -
Tobin 1 0-0 2, Brandt 1 1-2 3, Unger 7 1-2 17, Skocik 0 0-0 0, Sarge 2 0-0 6, Brommer 0 0-2 0, Felty 1 0-0 3. Totals
13 2-6 31. POTTSVILLE (58) - Palko 2 0-1 4, Matlock 5 1-3 14, Becker 1 1-2 3, Montone
1 2-2 5, Allen 1 1-2 3, Baibridge 1 1-2 3, Pogash 0 0-0 0, Chivinski 3 0-2 7, Oswald 1 0-0 2, Alvarez 1 0-0 2, Watkins 2 1-1
6, Shappell 4 0-1 9, Hughes-Crane 0 0-0 0, Flicker-White 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 7-16 58. PG
(0-3, 0-1);16;3;5;7;-;31 Potts (2-1, 1-0);11;12;16;19;-;58 3-point FGs: Unger,
Sarge 2, Felty, Matlock 3, Montone, Chivinski, Watkins, Shappell
Pottsville seeking 13th straight league championship
Could there be a shake-up in the Schuylkill League boys' basketball hierarchy or will
the favorites stand tall? For the last 13 seasons, Pottsville has held a stranglehold on the Schuylkill League Division
I title, reaching the league final in every one of those seasons. The Crimson Tide have won 10 overall league titles in that
span, including last year's crown with a 52-38 victory over Jim Thorpe. Heavy graduation losses, however, leave Jake
Wartella's squad looking for younger players to step up and continue the Tide's winning tradition. Pottsville's Division
I title streak is one of several boys' basketball storylines this season in the Schuylkill League, which will expand its playoffs
to more than four teams for the first time since 1996. Let's take a look at the three division races and other hot
topics heading into league play, which started Wednesday night with a pair of games and continues tonight with a full slate
of games. Division I Could this be the year for change atop the Division I standings? Jim Thorpe,
Blue Mountain, North Schuylkill and Panther Valley certainly believe that is possible. What do all these teams have
in common? Experienced rosters that return dynamic scorers. Let's start with Jim Thorpe, which made a late run to
earn the Division I wild card and qualify for the league playoffs for the first time since 2010. The Olympians then knocked
off Division III champion Shenandoah Valley in the semifinals before falling to Pottsville in the finals. Senior guard
Kaiden Herron (15.0 ppg) leads the way and is joined by a pair of 6-foot-6 big men in senior Bryson Heydt and junior Noah
Rosahac. Look for the Olympians to take advantage of height mismatches, while allowing Herron to be the playmaker in the offense.
Other key returning players for Jim Thorpe include senior guards Jasper DiSanto and Andrew Warner. "Our size
and experience will be our strengths this season," Olympians coach Jason McElmoyle said. "We need to continue to
focus on the fundamentals and build off of each practice." Blue Mountain is no stranger to the league playoffs,
and the Eagles have a senior-laden roster hungry to make another postseason appearance. Sharpshooting guard Kade Henninger
graduated, but senior guards Carson Kerstetter (12.8 ppg) and Brogan Campbell and junior forward Isaac Thomas lead a veteran
and athletic squad that also includes returning seniors Matt Caulfield and Derek Walasavage and junior Tyler Miller.
The Eagles just missed the league playoffs a year ago, then took Pottsville to overtime in the District 11 Class 5A semifinals
before falling 60-54. North Schuylkill is hungry for more after coming within a bucket of making the state playoffs
with a 44-42 loss to Wilson in the District 11 Class 4A semifinals. Junior guard Jack Keiter (14.7 ppg), senior guard
Drew Miller and junior Zane Zulkowski (7.2 ppg) will man the backcourt, while forwards Jack Dean and Tyrone Chambers will
bring physicality and grit to the paint. Junior Joey Flail, a key newcomer, brings athleticism and speed to the Spartans after
sitting out last season. "We expect to be competitive and work hard," said William Bracey, entering his
third season as the Spartans' head coach. Panther Valley is another team in Division I hungry for success. Led
by Patrick Crampsie in his 21st year at the helm, the Panthers return their top six players from last season's 12-11 squad.
Junior forward Stephen Hood (14.8 ppg) and senior forward Bradley Hood combined for 71 3-pointers, while junior point guard
Chase Weaver averaged 11.7 points per game and sophomore shooter Drew Kokinda drained 32 3-pointers. Senior forwards Michael
Pascoe and Austin Hadley add physicality and toughness inside and on the boards. With scoring coming from all angles,
Panther Valley expects to be competing for a Division I title and be a factor in the District 11 Class 3A playoffs. "We're
very excited about where our program is right now," Crampsie said. "We want to raise the bar from consistently making
the playoffs to consistently competing for championships." Of course, those four squads still have to beat Pottsville,
which will be no easy feat. Wartella returns for his third season at the helm looking to replace most of his offensive
production from last year's squad that went 19-8 and won the Schuylkill League and District 11 Class 5A titles before falling
to Marple-Newtown in the first round of the state playoffs. All-Area selections Jazce Carabello-Snowell (16.2 ppg),
Darren Yost (10.0 ppg) and Raeff DiCello (10.0 ppg) all graduated, as did 3-point sharpshooter Mike Sukeena and guard Chase
Fenstermacher. Seniors Nick Chivinski, Rylen Matlock, Amaree Bainbridge and Tejay Allen return, as does 6-3 forward
Joey Palko, who missed last season due to injury and should give Pottsville a presence in the paint. How quickly those players
fall into their roles will determine the Tide's success. Until somebody beats the Tide, they're still the favorite
to win Division I. Pine Grove, Tamaqua and Lehighton are a level below the other five teams in the Division I race,
but each is capable of surprising any of the title contenders on a given night. The Cardinals will be guided by new
head coach Jordan Lehman, who coached the Tri-Valley baseball team to District 11 titles the past two springs. Tamaqua will
be led by standout scorer Connor Dillon (12.6 ppg), while Lehighton possess a group of young players ready to turn the Indians
into contenders. New look playoffs The Schuylkill League will roll out a new playoff format this season.
Instead of the traditional four qualifiers - three division champions and a wild-card team from Division I - the new playoff
look will have two more teams in the league postseason contention. The traditional champions from Division I, II and
III, along with the Division I wild card will still be there. Additionally, though, there will be an opportunity for two more
teams to make the playoffs, making it a six-team tournament. Using District 11 rating points, one more team from Division
I and one more from Divisions II and III will make the post-season tournament. The top two teams overall will receive
byes into the semifinals. The other four will meet in a quarterfinal round that will ultimately set up the semifinal matchups.
An exciting opportunity for more competition in what should be a very competitive season for all three divisions.
Contact the writer: edoyle@republicanherald; (570) 628-6019; @iamelidoyle on Twitter BOYS' BASKETBALL: 2022-23 preview capsules SCHUYLKILL LEAGUE �� Boys' Hoops at a glance 2021-22 Recap Schuylkill League
Division I champion - Pottsville Division II champion - Tri-Valley Division III champion -
Shenandoah Valley Division I wild card - Jim Thorpe Overall champion - Pottsville District champions
Class 5A - Pottsville Class AA - Shenandoah Valley Class A - Nativity 2022-23 Key
Dates Feb. 14-15 - League semifinals Feb. 17 - League finals Week of Feb. 20 - District
playoffs begin New coaches Pine Grove - Jordan Lehman Minersville - Dave Mullaney Marian -
Scott Murphy Hamburg - Kevin McFarland
Crimson Tide Gets 1st WinPottsville 51, ELCO 37POTTSVILLE
- Nick Chivinski was the only Crimson Tide player in double figures, scoring a game-high 16 points in the non-league victory
over ELCO at Martz Hall. Pottsville used a 25-8, second-quarter run to break the game open. Rylen Matlock followed Chivinski
with nine points. ELCO (37) - Kless 3 0-0 9, Wentzel 0 0-0 0, Marquette 6 0-0 12, Kreide 1 0-0
2, George 0 0-0 0, James 0 0-0 0, Rodriguez 0 0-0 0, Boyer 3 0-0 7, Grey 1 0-0 2, Fritsch 0 0-0 0, Thornton 2 0-0 5. Totals
16 0-0 37. POTTSVILLE (51) - Palko 2 0-0 4, Matlock 3 1-1 9, Montone 2 4-4 8, Allen 3
0-0 6, Bainbridge 1 2-2 4, Chivinski 7 1-1 16, Oswald 0 0-0 0, Shappell 2 0-0 4. Totals 20 8-13 51.
Tide Falls To Wilson Wilson 46, Pottsville 34 POTTSVILLE
- Rylen Matlock scored eight points as Pottsville fell to Wilson West Lawn in a non-league game Friday night at Martz Hall. Letrel Montone and Tyler Shappell each added six points for the Crimson Tide. WILSON (46) - Melogrdwa 5 3-4 17, Gruber 3 3-4 9, Harding 4 1-2 9, Correll
3 0-1 8, McFadden 1 0-0 2, Odiale 0 1-2 1. Totals 16 8-13 46. POTTSVILLE (34) - Matlock 3 2-3 8, Montone 2 2-4 6, Shappell 2 0-1 6, Chivinski 2 0-0 5, Allen 2 0-0
4, Palko 1 1-2 3, Bainbridge 1 0-0 2. Totals 13 5-10 34. Wil (1-0);11;13;9;13;-;46 Potts
(0-1);3;13;9;9;-;34
Joey Palko
Senior
15
35
0
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Photo By Pottsville Republican |
Jazce Carabello-Snowell
Senior
338
649
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Photo By Pottsville Republican |
10.11 (27)
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Photo By Pottsville Republican |
Raeff Dicello
572
11
Senior
246
438
10
Chase Fenstermacher
Senior
126
152
|
Photo By Linsey Shuey - Pottsville Republican |
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Photo By Linsey Shuey - Pottsville Republican |
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Photo By Linsey Shuey - Pottsville Republican |
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Photo By Linsey Shuey - Pottsville Republican |
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Photo By Linsey Shuey - Pottsville Republican |
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Photo By Linsey Shuey - Pottsville Republican |
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Photo By Pottsville Republican |
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Photo By Pottsville Republican |
Athlete of the Week: Mike Sukeena, Pottsville boys' basketball - Feb 21, 2022 Updated 12 hrs
ago
The 6-foot-4 Pottsville senior recorded a double-double in both games of the Schuylkill League
boys' basketball playoffs, combining to score 33 points and collect 23 rebounds and help the Tide win the league title. Athlete
of the Week: Mike Sukeena Grade: Senior Age: 17 Residence: Pottsville Family: Father,
Mike Sukeena; mother, Dana Sukeena; Brother, Nick Sukeena; Sister, Virginia Johnson Sport: Boys'
Basketball Position: Forward Other sports you play: Baseball Favorite
professional athlete: Kevin Durant Favorite professional sports team: New York Giants Favorite
college sports teams: Michigan Favorite school subject: Math Favorite
food: Steak Favorite movie: Inception Favorite TV show: The
Office Favorite musical artist: J Cole Favorite color: Blue Hobbies: Playing
sports, hanging out with friends Plans after high school: Attend college and major in computer
science How does it feel to win the Schuylkill League championship as a senior, especially after losing in last year's
final? It feels great to win a Schuylkill League championship. Our loss in the championship last year really sucked
especially since we felt like we had a good chance to win it. We've been working really hard all season to get to this point. You
went scoreless in the first half. Near the end of the first half, your coach took you out and said you were going to have
a big second half. How does that feel to have your coach have that much confidence in you? It's really nice to have
a coach that trusts me as much as Coach Wartella does. No matter how bad I'd be playing in a game, he would always back me
100% and tell me not to stop shooting and playing my game. Back-to-back double-doubles in the Schuylkill League playoffs.
How satisfying does that feel? It's very satisfying. I definitely did not expect myself to pull down as many rebounds
as I did, but with me being one of the only big men we have now, I had to step up. You went against a pair of centers
taller than you vs. Jim Thorpe, yet still pulled down 12 rebounds. What was the key? I tried to time my jumps and use
my length to my advantage. Boxing out and having better position than your opponent is also very important when you're going
against taller players. Q: Did you feel you had to step up after Jazce Carabello-Snowell was injured and lost for the
season? In what ways? A: Yea, Jazce was one of our best players and it really hurt us to lose him. I had to try and
fill his position in playing center which I have never really played before. It was definitely something I had to get used
to, but after a few games I felt a lot more comfortable in the position. Q: How much pride does your team take in playing
defense? A: We take a lot of pride in our defense. At some points this year we kind of got away from the way we play
defense. Throughout the league playoffs we got back to playing real hard defense and that really helped us win. Q: How
did it feel to hit five 3-pointers in semifinal win over Tri-Valley? How key was that to your team's victory? A: Hitting
those 3-pointers felt great for me, especially since I haven't shot the ball as well as I would've liked to this year. Our
team as a whole shot the ball at a very high percentage. The 3-point shot was very big for our team in that game.
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Photo By Pottsville Republican |
274
13
Mekki McCuller
31
Jonathan Bellard
8
8
Keith King
* As We Verified the points Totals, the correct number will be added.
Career 3 Pointers
| Player | Season | Points | 3 Pointers | Total Player Points | | 1 | Nick Schlitzer | 2010-2011 | 589 | 44 | | 10/2/2017 | | Nick
Schlitzer | 2009-2010 | 570 | 46 | | | | Nick Schlitzer | 2008-2009 | 476 | 56 | | | | Nick Schlitzer | 2007-2008 | 245 | 35 | 1880 | | 2 | Travis Blankenhorn | 2014-2015 | 482 | 46 | | | | Travis Blankenhorn | 2013-2014 | 547 | 60 | | | | Travis Blankenhorn | 2012-2013 | 287 | 54 | | | | Travis Blankenhorn | 2011-2012 | 272 | | 1588 | | 3 | Chris Nabholz | 1983-1985 | 1496 | | 1496 | | 4 | Patrick Flannery | 1972-1976 | 1357 | | 1357 | | 5 | Tony Gomez | 2001-2002 | 425 | 65 | | | | Tony Gomez | 2000-2001 | 512 | 95 | | | | Tony Gomez | 1999-2000 | 213 | 36 | | | | Tony Gomez | 1998-1999 | 98 | 21 | 1248 | | 6 | John
Plachko | 1990-1993 | 1210 | | 1210 | | 7 | John Waters | 1964-1967 | 1209 | | 1209 | | 8 | Talton Alston | 1961-1962 | 385 | | | | | Talton Alston | 1962-1963 | 449 | | | | | Talton Alston | 1963-1964 | 372 | | 1206 | | 9 | Jake
Wartella | 2005-2006 | 288 | 33 | | | | Jake Wartella | 2004-2005 | 442 | 40 | | | | Jake Wartella | 2003-2004 | 331 | 31 | | | | Jake Wartella | 2002-2003 | 143 | 16 | 1204 | | 10 | Kris
Armson | 1989-1992 | 1179 | | 1179 | | 11 | Keith Armson | 1985-1989 | 1157 | | 1157 | | 12 | Ralph Thomas | 1979-1981 | 1142 | | 1142 | | 13 | Tim Mattas | 1985-1988 | 1073 | | 1073 | | 14 | Derrick McFarland | 1999-2000 | 411 | 4 | | | | Derrick McFarland | 1998-1999 | 381 | | | | | Derrick McFarland | 1997-1998 | 209 | 1 | | | | Derrick McFarland | 1996-1997 | 54 | | 1055 | | 15 | James Berrang | 1967-1970 | 1040 | | 1040 | | 16 | Jordan
Melochick | 2015-2016 | 372 | | | | | Jordan Melochick | 2014-2015 | 272 | | | | | Jordan Melochick | 2013-2014 | 292 | 19 | | | | Jordan Melochick | 2012-2013 | 101 | | 1037 | | 17 | Jordan
Abdo | 2016-2017 | 490 | | | | | Jordan Abdo
| 2015-2016 | 366 | | | | | Jordan Abdo
| 2014-2015 | 160 | | 1016 | | 18 | Ron Morris | 1963-1964 | 647 | | | | | Ron Morris | 1962-1963 | 279 | | | | | Ron Morris | 1961-1962 | 89 | | 1015 | | 19 | Mason Barnes
| 2019-2020 | 94 | | | | | Mason Barnes
| 2018-2019 | 409 | | | | | Mason Barnes
| 2017-2018 | 251 | | | | | Mason Barnes
| 2016-2017 | 112 | | 866 | | 20
| Brandon Bridy | 2012-2013 | 428 | 15 | | | | Brandon Bridy | 2011-2012 | 301 | | | | | Brandon
Bridy | 2010-2011 | 194 | | | | | Brandon Bridy | 2009-2010 | 21 | | 944 | | | Mark Chiccni | 1999-2000 | 338 | 34 | | | 20 | Mark Chiccini | 1998-1999 | 226 | 10 | | | | Mark Chiccini | 1997-1998 | 252 | 16 | | | | Mark Chiccini | 1996-1997 | 67 | 7 | 883 | | | Eli Nabholz | 2014-2015 | 346 | | | | 21 | Eli
Nabholz | 2013-2014 | 348 | 23 | | | | Eli Nabholz | 2012-2013 | 40 | 8 | | | | Eli Nabholz | 2011-2012 | 73 | | 807 | | 22 | Eric Hampford | 2005-2006 | 390 | 64 | | | | Eric Hampford | 2004-2005 | 209 | 36 | | | | Eric Hampford | 2003-2004 | 54 | 8 | | | | Eric Hampford | 2002-2003 | 46 | 8 | 699 | | 23 | Dave
Wilson | 2003-2004 | 487 | 25 | | | | Dave Wilson | 2002-2003 | 208 | 10 | 695 | | 24 | Tom McGeoy | 1999-2000 | 336 | | | | | Tom McGeoy | 1998-1999 | 131 | 3 | | | | Tom McGeoy | 1997-1998 | 209 | 5 | 676 | | 25 | Davon
Slaton | 2006-2007 | 385 | 39 | | | | Davon Slaton | 2005-2006 | 273 | 18 | 658 | | 26 | Josh Whalen | 2009-2010 | 350 | | | | | Josh Whalen | 2008-2009 | 276 | 40 | | | | Josh Whalen | 2007-2008 | 10 | 2 | 636 | | 27 | Corey
Buletza | 2006-2007 | 269 | 13 | | | | Corey Buletza | 2005-2006 | 283 | 12 | | | | Corey Buletza | 2004-2005 | 47 | 5 | 599 | | | Ian Renninnger | 2017-2018 | 269 | | | | | | 2016-2017 | 281 | | | | | | 2015-2016 | 208 | | | | | | 2014-2015 | 23 | | 781 | | 28 | Bobby Schappell | 2010-2011 | 272 | | | | | Bobby Schappell | 2009-2010 | 138 | | | | | Bobby Schappell | 2008-2009 | 83 | 11 | 493 | | 29 | Dan
Quirk | 2004-2005 | 240 | 15 | | | | Dan Quirk | 2003-2004 | 153 | 15 | | | | Dan Quirk | 2002-2003 | 84 | | 477 | | 30 | Ian Renninnger | 2017-2018 | | | | | | Ian Renninnger | 2016-2017 | 281 | | | | | Ian Renninnger | 2015-2016 | 208 | | | | | Ian
Renninnger | 2014-2015 | 23 | | 512 | | 31 | Luke
McMurtrie | 2000-2001 | 254 | 6 | | | | Luke McMurtrie | 1999-2000 | 136 | 7 | | | | Luke McMurtrie | 1998-1999 | 39 | 2 | 429 | | 32 | Ryan
McGinley | 1995-1996 | 403 | 58 | 403 | | 33 | Dan Pfeil | 1995-1996 | 385 | 1 | 385 | | 34 | Jon Berdanier | 1998-1999 | 196 | 1 | | | | Jon Berdanier | 1997-1998 | 183 | | | | | Jon
Berdanier | 1996-1997 | 1 | | 380 | | 35 | Ryan Coyle | 2012-2013 | 211 | 27 | | | | Ryan Coyle | 2011-2012 | 159 | | | | | Ryan Coyle | 2010-2011 | 6 | | 376 | | 36 | Tim
McFarland | 2003-2004 | 150 | | | | | Tim McFarland | 2002-2003 | 163 | 7 | | | | Tim McFarland | 2001-2002 | 58 | 1 | 371 | | 37 | Willie White | 1996-1997 | 159 | | | | | Willie White | 1995-1996 | 206 | 1 | 365 | | 38 | Anthony
Mehling | 2001-2002 | 273 | 10 | | | | Anthony Mehling | 2000-2001 | 84 | 2 | 357 | | 39 | Mike Land | 2007-2008 | 302 | | | | | Mike Land | 2006-2007 | 45 | | | | | Mike Land | 2005-2006 | 2 | | 349 | | 40 | Connor Hinchliffe | 2014-2015 | 127 | | | | | Connor Hinchliffe | 2013-2014 | 181 | 24 | | | | Connor Hinchliffe | 2012-2013 | 22 | 6 | 330 | | 41 | Muldeen
Thomas | 2015-2016 | 273 | | | | | Muldeen Thomas | 2014-2015 | 53 | | 326 | | 42 | Pat Boran | 1997-1998 | 238 | 1 | | | | Pat Boran | 1996-1997 | 88 | 6 | 326 | | 43 | Chris Schlitzer | 1999-2000 | 193 | 33 | | | | Chris Schlitzer | 1998-1999 | 110 | 18 | | | | Chris Schlitzer | 1997-1998 | 14 | 1 | 317 | | 44 | Brandon
McFarland | 2007-2008 | 186 | | | | | Brandon McFarland | 2006-2007 | 114 | | | | | Brandon McFarland | 2005-2006 | 7 | | 307 | | 45 | Eric
Leymeister | 2009-2010 | 146 | | | | | Eric Leymeister | 2008-2009 | 153 | | | | | Eric Leymeister | 2007-2008 | 6 | | 305 | | 46 | Jamell Boyd | 2000-2001 | 216 | | | | | Jamell Boyd | 1999-2000 | 67 | | | | | Jamell Boyd | 1998-1999 | 21 | | 304 | | 47 | Mike Yaworsky | 1996-1997 | 238 | 3 | | | | Mike Yaworsky | 1995-1996 | 65 | 1 | 303 | | 48 | Brad
Woznisky | 2003-2004 | 200 | 6 | | | | Brad Woznisky | 2002-2003 | 89 | 1 | 289 | | 49 | Eric Lurwick | 2006-2007 | 186 | 16 | | | | Eric Lurwick | 2005-2006 | 68 | 4 | | | | Eric Lurwick | 2004-2005 | 17 | 3 | 271 | | 50 | Andy
Runkle | 2002-2003 | 158 | 5 | | | | Andy Runkle | 2001-2002 | 101 | | 259 | | 51 | Shavinskin Thomas | 2011-2012 | 207 | | | | | Shavinskin Thomas | 2010-2011 | 51 | | 258 | | 52 | Cory
Brown | 2005-2006 | 142 | 1 | | | | Cory Brown | 2004-2005 | 103 | 7 | | | | Cory Brown | 2003-2004 | 6 | | 251 | | 53 | Tyler Heffner | 2011-2012 | 79 | | | | 54 | Tyler Heffner | 2010-2011 | 65 | | | | | Tyler Heffner | 2009-2010 | 84 | | | | 55 | Tyler
Heffner | 2008-2009 | 13 | | 241 | | | Brian Cerrullo | 1995-1996 | 241 | | 241 | |
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