"Alvarez is an all-world scorer, (Ryder) Bowers can shoot from anywhere," Arcidiacono said. "(Kunstek) had 20, he was a handful in the post. But we kept battling and battling, and we got the stops. That resulted in what we saw with the final score. Pressure is a privilege. We get to play this game, we get to play a really good Pottsville team, and we get to go out and compete. If we continue to buy in to that mentality, we'll continue to get that kind of effort on the court."

Fistner led Southern Lehigh with 15 points, while Capuano and Plessl each added 11. Parker Spigelmeyer contributed nine points on three 3-pointers.

Alvarez added 12 points for Pottsville, and Kimber chipped in eight.

Southern Lehigh advances to the District 11 Class 5A championship game against Selinsgrove, while Pottsville's first season under Tyler Heffner concludes at 19-8.

Game Summary

District 11 Class 5A Semifinal

At Blue Mountain High School

SOUTHERN LEHIGH (55) - Capuano 4 2-2 11, Plessl 4 1-2 11, Adams 1 2-2 4, Fistner 6 0-0 15, Helms 0 0-0 0, Spigelmeyer 3 0-0 9, Fry 1 3-3 5. Totals 19 8-9 55.

POTTSVILLE (43) - Hobbs 0 0-0 0, McGinley 0 0-0 0, Allen 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 5 1-3 12, Bowers 1 0-0 3, Kunstek 8 4-4 20, Clews 0 0-0 0, Kimber 4 0-0 8. Totals 18 5-7 43.

3-point FGs: Capuano, Plessl 2, Fistner 3, Spigelmeyer 3, Alvarez, Bowers

Officials: Hymans, Peterson, Bonavita

ORWIGSBURG - It's often said in basketball that when a team likes to shoot the three, you live and die by the sword. While a hot night from three-point range can carry a team to victory, it can just as easily sink a team.

For the Pottsville Crimson Tide, it was the latter on Friday evening.

The Crimson Tide, in a District 11 Class 4A semifinals 55-43 loss to Southern Lehigh, struggled from three-point range, making just 2-of-23 attempts in the loss.

On the other end of the court, the Spartans seemingly had an answer from distance whenever they needed it. They finished the game 9-of-16 from distance.

While it was Southern Lehigh's night, it was Pottsville who started the scoring as senior forward Davey Kunstek finished at the rim to give the Tide a 2-0 lead. A Josh Kimber steal and layup at the other end, less than two minutes later, extended the lead to 4-0.

It would be a duo that the Tide would end up leaning on throughout the first half.

Kunstek scored 10 of his 20 points over the first half, including eight points in the second quarter. Kimber played strong on both ends of the court, with eight first-half points, including six straight for the Tide at one point in the first quarter.

Outside of Kimber and Kunstek, it was a sluggish first half for Pottsville.

The Tide had just nine baskets in the 16 minutes of play on 24 total shots, eight of which came from Kunstek and Kimber.

The only other member of the Tide to score in the first half was senior forward Christian Alvarez.

Southern Lehigh got on the board on a Wyatt Adams layup at the 4:25 mark before Kimber added back-to-back baskets to put Pottsville ahead 8-4.

Before the end of the first quarter, Southern Lehigh took the lead on a pair of baskets from Parker Spigelmyer in 20 seconds, including a three-pointer. Spigelmyer's quick five points gave the Spartans a 10-8 lead after eight minutes of action.

While Pottsville struggled offensively, Southern Lehigh wasn't overly efficient in the first 16 minutes of action. The Spartans had just eight made shots, but of those eight makes, four were from distance.

Pottsville tied the game 20 seconds into the second quarter on a Christian Alvarez layup, but that would be the last time the Tide stood on even ground with the Spartans.

Southern Lehigh retook the lead less than 30 seconds later on a Connor Clauser three-pointer and led for the rest of the evening.

Pottsville's shooting struggles continued in the second quarter, making just 5-of-13 attempts. The Spartans made 4-of-10 attempts in the second frame, including three makes from three-point range.

Heading into halftime, Southern Lehigh led 23-20.

Coming out of halftime, Southern Lehigh continued to push the pace, quickly tacking on five points, including a Jack Fistner three-pointer, to lead 28-20 before the six-minute mark of the quarter. Fistner was the leading scorer for the Spartans in the game with 15 points.

After scoring just two points in the first half, Pottsville senior Christian Alvarez had five points in the third quarter, helping bring the Tide within as close as six points. He finished the game with 12 points.

A David Kunstek layup with eight seconds remaining in the quarter narrowed the lead to 35-29. The basket ignited the Tide's bench and looked to serve as momentum carrying into the fourth quarter.

But Southern Lehigh once again had an answer, this time it was senior guard Joseph Plessi who stepped up, making a spectacular fade-away three-pointer at the buzzer to send the Spartans into the fourth quarter ahead 38-29.

As they did in the third quarter, Southern Lehigh came out quickly in the fourth with a pair of buckets, including a three-pointer from junior forward Morgan Capuano, extending the lead to a game high at the time of 14 points, 43-29.

The Crimson Tide scored six straight after the Capuano three, including their first three-pointer of the game coming at the 4:28 mark from Alvarez to bring themselves within eight. But that was as close as Pottsville could get in the final minutes. Southern Lehigh closed out the fourth quarter, scoring six of the next nine points to stop the Pottsville run en route to a 55-43 final.

The loss to Southern Lehigh officially closes the book on Pottsville's 2025-26 season, the first under coach Tyler Heffner. The Crimson Tide finished the season with a 19-8 record, which included finishing as the Schuylkill League runner-ups.

Southern Lehigh, now with their spot clinched in the PIAA State Playoffs, will look to win their first Class 5A District championship since the 2019-20 season when they face Selingsgrove Area on Saturday. Selinsgrove defeated Blue Mountain at Martz Hall on Tuesday evening, 64-50.

ORWIGSBURG - If there were any questions about the Pottsville Crimson Tide having any lingering effects from last week's Schuylkill League championship game loss to Minersville, the Crimson Tide quickly put them to rest on Friday evening. The top-seeded Tide crushed Jim Thorpe in the Class 5A quarterfinals 61-27.

"We got in the gym on Sunday and were able to refocus a little bit," Pottsville coach Tyler Heffner said about his team's ability to refocus after the heartbreaking loss. "We had a little bit of fun. We have a lot of seniors, and they kind of led us through it, made sure that we were focused."

Two of those seniors, Davey Kunstek and Christian Alvarez, not only led the Crimson Tide throughout the week in bouncing back from the loss but also led them on Friday in the win. Kusntek finished a game-high 15 points while Alvarez scored 12 of his own.

"We wanted to get right back in the gym, and get right back to work," Alvarez said about the Crimson Tide's mentality ahead of Friday's matchup.

While it was a dominant win, Tyler Heffner's squad had to grind through offensive struggles in the first half. Over the first two quarters of play, Pottsville was just 10-for-34 from the field. In the second half, the Crimson Tide found its shooting legs, making 13-of-23 second-half shots en route to its blowout win.

Defensively, it was a fantastic defensive effort with the Crimson Tide forcing 19 Jim Thorpe turnovers. They also dominated on the boards, out-rebounding the Olympians 27-18, including 10 offensive rebounds

"We've talked all year about rebounding and how important it is," Heffner said. "It changes games."

All season long, rebounding and offensive rebounding have been a focus for the Crimson Tide. Those extra efforts in practice paid off on Friday. "They work really hard at practice. We put a focus on offensive rebounding."

"Every possession matters," Alvarez discussed. "Getting one extra offensive rebound on these two buckets is so important. And just doing the little things goes a long way."

While it was Pottsville's night, it was Jim Thorpe striking first in the game with a Brody Schrantz jumper. The early lead was their lone lead of the evening, lasting just 25 seconds before Christian Alvarez tied the game 40 seconds in. After the pair of quick makes, both teams struggled throughout the remainder of the quarter from the field.

Pottsville made just three of its first 12 attempts, while Jim Thorpe, with six first-quarter turnovers, struggled to get shots off on the Crimson Tide, making just 2-of-8 attempts.

Despite the offensive inefficiencies, the Crimson Tide picked up contributions from Davey Kunstek, Max Clews, and Andrew Allen in the opening quarter of play, leading 15-5 after eight minutes.

Pottsville in the quarter utilized two extended runs, a 7-0 run to take a 7-2 lead before a Jim Thorpe layup and free throw narrowed the deficit to 7-5. The Crimson Tide immediately answered with an 8-0 run to end the first frame.

Pottsville picked up where they left off early in the second quarter with back-to-back baskets from Kunstek and Ryder Bowers to extend their lead to 20-5 within the first 10 minutes of action, and extending their run to 13-0. Pierce Gothard snapped the Pottsville run with a jumper at the 6:05 mark, serving as the Olympians' lone basket of the second stanza.

The Crimson Tide tacked on nine more points before the half, including six points from Kunstek, bringing his first-half total to 10, allowing Pottsville to enter halftime ahead comfortably 29-7.

Coming out of the break, Jim Thorpe made a strong push in the opening minutes, outscoring Pottsville 10-4, including seven points from Brody Schrantz to cut the Pottsville lead to 33-17, but the surge from the Olympians did not last. Following a timeout from Pottsville coach Tyler Heffner, the Crimson Tide regained control, finishing the quarter on a 16-4 run.

Key rotational guard Juleon Bainbridge capped off the third quarter with each of the Crimson Tide's final eight points to send the game to the final frame with Pottsville ahead 49-20.

"We all trust each other to make plays," Alvarez said about Pottsville's complete team effort in the win. "We did that in the second half when we were making our shots. It's not always going to fall, so just keep trusting your shot, trusting each other to make the right plays, and you'll be all right."

Pottsville, after making 8-of-15 shots in the third quarter, continued to have the hot hand from the floor in the fourth quarter, making five of eight attempts in the quarter to close out the victory and advance to the District 11 Class 5A semifinals.

With the win, the Crimson Tide will face off against the No. 4 seed Southern Lehigh Spartans at Blue Mountain High School on Tuesday evening, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Same book, new chapter 

This time around Minersville emerged with the overtime win after falling 50-43 to Pottsville in the championship game last year.

The turnaround began with a defensive identity shift. After allowing 24 points in the first half, Minersville held the Crimson Tide (18-7) to just 14 points across the third and fourth quarters combined.

"We didn't like losing the championship last year, so we knew we could come back and get it," said Bethea, who finished with 14 points. "We really played good team defense in the second half. We're long and lengthy, so we can play defense with anyone."

Minersville outscored Pottsville 30-20 in the second half and overtime periods and didn't allow the Crimson Tide to more than seven points in the third or fourth quarter or overtime.

The Battlin' Miners trailed 24-17 at halftime just to rally in the second half and outscore Pottsville by seven points while being led by a barrage of three-pointers from Camden Rogers and Chase Zimerofsky in the fourth quarter.

"We know how to win in the clutch and we did it all the time the last few weeks," George said. "We had some real nailbiters but I'm really proud of them."

The overtime period belonged to the Miners. Bethea immediately went to work, scoring two quick layups to give Minersville a 42-38 lead they would never relinquish.

The dagger came when Zimerofsky swiped a steal and found Jordan Bowers for a layup, capping a 7-2 run that pushed the lead to five. Pottsville's Christian Alvarez, who led all scorers with 21 points, tried to keep the Crimson Tide alive, but free throws from Rogers sealed the historic victory.

Bowers was a force on the glass with 13 rebounds, while Rogers matched Bethea's team-high with 14 points.

For a program that had seen its only loss of the season come at the hands of Pottsville back in December, the victory was more than just a league title - it was the closing of a circle.

"All these kids, Minersville, the town, and the program is all a part of this," George said.

"Going back to the defense - holding Pottsville under 50 on its home floor is impressive. We try to hold teams under 50; that's our goal. We needed our defense to give us offense tonight."

It wasn't pretty. It wasn't easy. But it was unforgettable.

After four quarters of grinding half-court defense and championship-level tension, the teams were locked at 38-38.

Overtime belonged to Minersville (23-1) - and to history.

Bethea scored the opening basket of the extra session off the tip and attacked again moments later to put the Miners in front 42-38. Jordan Bowers followed with one of the biggest plays of the night, finishing a transition three-point play after a steal to extend the lead to five. Camden Rogers calmly knocked down two free throws in the final minute.

And when Pottsville had one last look to tie it with 3.0 left, Zimerofsky rose up and blocked the potential game-tying 3 as the buzzer sounded.

Ballgame.

Championship.

History.

Minersville survived a defensive battle that felt worthy of the biggest stage in March.

Pottsville (18-7) controlled much of the first half behind Christian Alvarez and Davey Kunstek. Alvarez scored in transition, hit deep 3-pointers and attacked the post, while Kunstek finished strong around the rim as the Crimson Tide built a 24-17 halftime lead.

The Battlin' Miners received a spark late in the second quarter when senior Brandon Adams faked a pass and buried a corner 3 - his first of the season - to cut the deficit and shift momentum. Known primarily for his defense, Adams delivered a timely shot that helped steady Minersville heading into the break.

Even after Alvarez stretched the advantage to 29-23 in the third quarter, the Miners never splintered.

Rogers buried a pair of momentum-shifting 3-pointers. Jordan Bowers began carving into the lane. Bethea attacked the free-throw line. Minersville's defense tightened possession by possession.

Pottsville led 31-25 entering the fourth, but the Miners started creeping back.

Bethea opened the final period of regulation with a strong finish. Zimerofsky knocked down a corner 3. Josh Kimber answered with a triple for the Tide. Then Rogers delivered again, drilling a wing 3 with 2:40 remaining to tie the game at 38-38 and send Martz Hall into a frenzy.

Both teams had chances in the final seconds of regulation. Bethea's late attempt didn't fall. Overtime felt inevitable.

In the extra session, Minersville was sharper, stronger and steadier.

Bethea finished with 14 points, including eight free throws, and controlled the tempo when it mattered most. Rogers also scored 14, hitting four 3-pointers and both clutch free throws late. Jordan Bowers added 11 points and made the defining hustle plays of the night.

Alvarez paced Pottsville with a game-high 21 points, including three 3-pointers, while Kunstek added 14 with a strong interior performance.

"We knew we had to get a hand up on Alvarez," George said. "He shoots like Steph Curry out here - he's a different dude at Martz Hall. I'm very glad to say we'll never play him again. He's a great kid and I wish him a great college career.

"And Davey was awesome in the post. He makes big buckets. Ryder is a clutch shooter. That's what we talked about - we can't let Ryder get free. Do your best with Davey, we're not sending help. We knew he'd get some; he's had a great season. And just get your dang hand up on Christian. Make him work for it. And he still made plays. All their other guys are tough, too.

"We were just trying to tell our kids to lock in and do their job on defense. I wish it was something special scheme-wise, but it was just the fact they worked their tails off. It was flat-out intensity."

The Battlin' Miners outscored Pottsville 22-13 across the fourth quarter and overtime combined - a championship response in the season's biggest moment.

Minersville shot 13-of-17 from the free-throw line, while Pottsville went 6-of-9. In a game decided by three points in overtime, every possession mattered.

Last season, the Miners left this floor after a 50-43 loss in the championship game.

This time, they stayed.

They raised the trophy.

And for the first time ever, Minersville boys' basketball is Schuylkill League champion.

Game Summary

Schuylkill League Boys' Championship

At Martz Hall

POTTSVILLE (44) - Alvarez 8 2-5 21, R. Bowers 2 0-0 6, Kunstek 4 4-4 14, Hobbs 0 0-0 0, Kimber 1 0-0 3, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, McGinley 0 0-0 0, Allen 0 0-0 0, Clews 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 6-9 44.

MINERSVILLE (47) - Adams 1 0-0 3, Rogers 4 2-2 14, Zimerofsky 1 2-4 5, Fessler 0 0-0 0, Bethea 3 8-8 14, J. Bowers 5 1-3 11, Plesnarski 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 13-17 47.

3-point FGs: Alvarez 3, R. Bowers 2, Kimber, Adams, Rogers 4, Zimerofsky

Officials: Groody, Towle, Senunas

Get your popcorn ready for the bright lights.

It'll be a rematch of last year's Schuylkill League boys basketball championship when Pottsville (18-6, 12-2) and Minersville (22-1, 13-1) meet at Martz Hall on Friday night.

"Now we're a little more familiar with these teams and we'll be ready to go Friday," Pottsville coach Tyler Heffner said. "It's another game for us to focus on a different style team."

Pottsville and Minersville each punched their ticket to the Schuylkill League Championship with semifinal wins over Tri-Valley and Blue Mountain, respectively, on Wednesday.

"At this point in the season, you can feel it with this team, and see it in their faces that we know we can do it and make the plays down the stretch," Minersville coach Chris George said. "We have to be better at executing little things, because Pottsville just doesn't mess up little things and they're fundamentally well coached."

Prior to the Crimson Tide winning the league championship last season, Mahanoy Area won the league title during the 2023-24 season with a 66-51 win for the program's seventh ever league title. Blue Mountain won the Schuylkill League Championship title during the 2022-23 season with a 57-54 win over North Schuylkill.

Now it's time for Pottsville and Minersville's stars to shine under the bright lights at Martz Hall for the second straight year after the Crimson Tide earned a 50-43 win in last year's championship game.

"We feel like we can wear teams down with the depth we have," Heffner said after the win over Tri-Valley. "We did that in the second quarter and it was a good all-around performance. I thought we played really well."

Pottsville lost six seniors from last year's championship winning squad while Minersville lost eight seniors to graduation, as well as Dante Carr, who departed for the University of Central Florida in January to get an early start on his college football career.

"Our seniors are great, and all credit to coach (Dave) Mullaney for laying the foundation here, and those guys did an awesome job," George said. "We took their foundation and we knew it'd be different, so we took the pieces we have and tried to tweak it. We're a little more up-tempo and it's been great senior leadership and they don't panic."

The starting five of Camden Rogers, Chase Zimerofsky, Shazier Bethea, Jordan Bowers and Nolan Plesnarski accounted for all 50 of Minersville's points in the comeback win over Blue Mountain.

"We've gone down a few times this year, and knowing that I have four guys behind me that have so much heart and no quit is fun to be out there with them," Rogers said. "Everyone on our team is unselfish, and when the team puts that belief in me, it makes me believe in myself."

Pottsville advanced to the league championship game with a starting lineup of Chris Hobbs, Christian Alvarez, Ryder Bowers, Davey Kunstek and Josh Kimber, who scored 56 of the Crimson Tide's 70 points in the lopsided win over Tri-Valley.

Minersville is having a one-of-a-kind season.

The Battlin Miners' finished 21-1 overall and 13-1 in league play to win the Division I regular season title, and are currently on a 19-game winning streak and have scored more than 60 points in 16 games this season. Pottsville has won 10 of their last 13 games and have outscored their opponents 58-45 per game and have scored over 60 points in 12 games this season.

What's most unique about both Schuylkill League Championship teams is that they are both led by first-year head coaches, Pottsville's Tyler Heffner and Minersville's Chris George.

Heffner is a 2012 graduate of Pottsville and began coaching as an assistant for the Crimson Tide in 2016. Heffner coached the seventh grade boys for two years, the eighth grade boys for two years and then has spent three seasons as the junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant.

George took over at Minersville after former coach Dave Mullaney - who compiled a 53-24 record over three seasons - resigned last March. George spent the previous 10 years as head coach at Northern Lebanon.

Heffner has been helped out by his senior class -- Brody Herndon, Juleon Bainbridge, Grady Leskin, Christian Alvarez, Ryder Bowers, Davey Kunstek and Brandon Viars. Alvarez leads the Crimson Tide offense with 18.2 points per game, Bowers' 11.2 points per game and Kunstek's 10 points per game.

"We just want to focus on ourselves and do what we do well," Alvarez said. "We know we can come out with the win if we do that."

Pottsville and Minersville will meet for the third time this season Friday. The road team won each of the regular season matchups.

Pottsville won 62-51 on Dec. 11, and Minersville squeaked out a 62-58 overtime win on Jan. 20.

Kunstek led the Crimson Tide with 19 points, while Bowers scored 14 points and Hobbs scored 11 in Pottsville's 62-51 win at Minersville on Dec. 11.

When the two teams matched up at Martz Hall on Jan. 20, Bethea and Alvarez combined for 57 points. Bethea led the Battlin' Miners with 30 points and Bowers contributed 18 points in the overtime win.

"We feel like we can match up well with anyone and being in this type of atmosphere gets you ready for the championship," Rogers said. "When (Bethea is) hitting, we all feed off his energy. He's a great senior leader so feeding off his energy is awesome."

Pottsville and Minersville will play for the Schuylkill League Championship at Martz Hall on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

By Quinn Burkitt | qburkitt@republicanherald.com | Republican Herald

PUBLISHED: February 11, 2026 at 11:29 PM EST

The script couldn't have written itself any better for Pottsville and Minersville's boys basketball teams this season.

Both Pottsville (19-6, 12-2) and Minersville (22-1, 13-1) set up a rematch of last year's Schuylkill League Championship when they picked up semifinal wins at Martz Hall Wednesday.

The Crimson Tide continued their five-game winning streak with a 70-44 blowout of Tri-Valley (20-3, 14-0) and Minersville rallied in the second half for a 50-47 semifinal win over Blue Mountain (16-8, 10-4).

"It was a solid all around performance and I thought we played really well," Pottsville coach Tyler Heffner said. "We had some senior leaders step up and settle us down tonight."

• Both Minersville and Pottsville have been led by first-year head coaches in Chris George and Tyler Heffner and will match up for the third time this season after splitting the season series. Pottsville defeated Minersville 62-51 on Dec. 11 and Minersville toppled Pottsville 62-58 in overtime on Jan. 20.

"We've had great senior leadership and our leaders don't panic," Minersville coach Chris George said. "At this point in the season we've had six or seven games that have been this close and we've come out on the right end almost every time and we know we can make the plays down the stretch."

Pottsville will fight for their second consecutive league championship title after a 50-43 championship win over Minersville last season.

Here's what we learned from Wednesday's Schuylkill League semifinal matchups including Tri-Valley and Blue Mountain.

Pottsville: The Crimson Tide get rolling late and don't let up

Pottsville showed off much of the same offensive destruction from a 64-21 league playoff opening win over Nativity.

"We know they run the floor a lot and we were able to get out in open space a little which got us some open shots," Heffner said. "Once we saw a couple go in we felt really good about it."

Pottsville fell behind early 10-2 after a Braeden Doyle bucket for Tri-Valley.

The Crimson Tide didn't look back after the slow start and outscored Tri-Valley 32-13 through the rest of the first half, led by Ryder Bowers trio of three-pointers and Christian Alvarez's eight points before halftime.

"I trust in all my teammates and they trust in me and I know these guys can hit big shots," Alvarez said. "I believe in all of them to do that so I wasn't surprised when they hit those shots."

Tri-Valley stayed in the game early behind a pair of three-pointers from Braeden Doyle as well as three's from Trey Porter and Kingsley Johnson to keep it 15-15 at the end of the first.

Josh Kimber was heavily involved with the Crimson Tide gameplan when he scooped up a steal and flushed it at the other end for the 31-19 lead with three minutes left in the first half.

Alvarez truly awoke after halftime when he scored 16 points in the third quarter and led Pottsville on an 11-1 scoring run to start the second half for the 45-24 lead.

"We just want to focus on ourselves and do what we do well," Alvarez said. "We know we can come out with the win when we stick together."

Alvarez brought in nine rebounds, Bowers added 14 point and Davey Kunstek chipped into the effort with nine points.

Pottsville has defeated their opponents by 20 points or more in nine games this season.

Tri-Valley: Full-court offense loses steam against the league's best 

Tri-Valley had used a full-court transition offense to outscore their opponents by an average margin of 18 points this season.

"They have so many athletes and they run the floor at such a pace," Heffner said. "They got to us a little bit and it's a really unique challenge how they push the ball."

That full-court transition offense came to a halt against the Crimson Tide when they were slowed down to just 21 points in the second half of a 26-point loss.

The loss was the second in the last week for the Bulldogs who previously had a 14-game winning streak after winning the Schuylkill League Division II regular season title.

Braeden Doyle was Tri-Valley's leading scorer and was held to just 12 points while Trey Porter added 11.

The Bulldogs scored over 70 points in 16 games this season and were held to just 44 points against Pottsville after a 70-68 loss to Minersville last week in the regular season finale.

Minersville: Delivering in crunch time when it counted most 

Minersville won the Division I regular season title by finishing the regular season 21-1 and are now on a 19-game winning streak and have outscored their opponents by an average margin of 64-50.

That didn't hold up against Blue Mountain when the Battlin' Miners trailed by nine at the end of the first quarter and then trailed by two at halftime before rallying in the second half for a three-point win.

"All credit to the foundation that was laid here and we knew losing four starters would be tough this season," George said. "We knew it was going to be different and we took those pieces and tried to tweak it."

The tight margin second half will only help the Battlin' Miners moving forward against Pottsville and in the District 11 playoffs beginning next week.

After trailing 26-24 at halftime, Minersville went on a 17-8 scoring run in the third quarter, led by Shazier Bethea's eight points and pair of three's while Jordan Bowers contributed six points in the third for the 41-34 lead.

"Coming out slow isn't something we want to do and when we battle back like that we can match up well with anyone," Minersville's Camden Rogers said. "Especially being in this atmosphere it gets you ready for big games."

The Battlin' Miners rose after halftime when Bethea and Rogers each hit three's to knot the score at 32-32. Bethea hit another three and Minersville took a 39-34 lead with a minute left in the third quarter.

"When Shazier is hitting you can just feel that energy and he's a great senior leader so just feeding off his energy is awesome," Rogers said. "Our gameplan was to keep them from getting transition points and we were able to hold them to difficult shots in the second half."

Minersville led Blue Mountain 41-34 at the end of the third quarter before the Eagles turned it up a notch for a 10-4 scoring run after a Meade three for the 48-44 deficit.

Minersville's only real challenge defensively was slowing down Meade getting to the basket who finished with 20 points. Beck Henninger hit a three to bring the Eagles within a 48-47 deficit with a minute left in the game but it wasn't enough.

Blue Mountain: Fast start can't hold up against the Battlin' Miners

Blue Mountain competed in just six games where the final score was decided by single figures this season.

The Eagles found themselves in one of those against Minersville in the league semifinal. The loss also broke a seven-game winning streak for the Eagles.

Blue Mountain jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the opening minutes and didn't let the lead slip away until the opening minutes of the second half.

Tyeirre Meade and Cohen Werner were credited with getting Blue Mountain out to the early lead when they combined for 13 points in the first quarter.

Evan Setlock hit a three to extend Blue Mountain's lead to 18-6 with a minute left in the first quarter before Minersville closed the first half on an 18-8 scoring run for the two-point deficit.

The Eagles remained close in the second half and were led by Meade's 20 points, Werner's eight points and Henninger's seven.

The semifinals bring together contrasting styles, seasoned coaching staffs, and teams that understand exactly what this stage demands.

By the end of the night, only two will still be standing.

Structure vs. Firepower

Pottsville and Tri-Valley arrive at the semifinal round by very different paths, but both with legitimate expectations of playing Friday night.

The Crimson Tide punched their ticket with a dominant quarterfinal performance against Nativity, setting the tone early and never allowing the game to drift. Pottsville enters with a reputation built on balance, spacing, and discipline - hallmarks of Tide basketball in recent decades.

Christian Alvarez anchors the offense with his ability to score from anywhere on the floor, while Ryder Bowers' perimeter shooting forces defenses to stretch. Davey Kunstek provides a physical interior presence, and the guard pairing of Chris Hobbs and Josh Kimber offers stability when games slow down.

And as touched on in the quarterfinal preview, one of Pottsville's biggest weapons may come from the bench - or several seats along it. JuJu Bainbridge, Andrew Allen and Max Clews are just a few of the names coach Tyler Heffner has no hesitation turning to in virtually any situation.

Tri-Valley, meanwhile, has been one of the league's most explosive teams all season and arrives rested after earning a quarterfinal bye as Division II champions.

And make no mistake - these Dawgs love to run.

Tri-Valley thrives in space and tempo, with Braeden Doyle serving as the engine. When Doyle gets downhill or finds a rhythm from the outside, the game can tilt quickly. Owen Miller's ability to control pace and distribute keeps the Dawgs organized, while Gavin Klock, Cooper Carl and Trey Porter supply size and rebounding to match the scoring punch. Kingsley Johnson adds another layer off the bench, capable of flipping momentum in short bursts.

This matchup may come down to which style prevails. Pottsville wants clean possessions, sharp rotations, and a measured pace. Tri-Valley is comfortable turning games into extended runs, where one or two stops can snowball into separation. At Martz Hall - where momentum is amplified - that contrast could decide the outcome.

Familiar Foes, Heavyweight Feel

If the nightcap feels familiar, that's because it is.

Blue Mountain and Minersville know each other well, and their semifinal matchup carries the feel of two programs that fully expect to be playing deep into the postseason.

Minersville swept the regular-season meetings - 54-44 on Dec. 8 and 55-49 on Jan. 16 - but regular-season results carry less weight with a trip to the finals on the line.

Blue Mountain advanced with a physical quarterfinal win over Schuylkill Haven 64-54, leaning on toughness and timely shooting. Tyeirre Meade sets the tone with his scoring and defensive presence. Cohen Werner and Cohen Kirby provide versatility, while Evan Setlock and Sean Gaddy handle perimeter responsibilities. Beck Henninger's shooting off the bench is a real weapon - defenses cannot lose him.

Minersville enters as the top seed after claiming the Division I title and earning a quarterfinal bye. The Battlin' Miners have looked the part all season.

Shazier Bethea is the centerpiece - a scorer, facilitator and disruptive defender. Jordan Bowers brings energy, versatility, and defensively, can guard basically one through five in the lineup. Chase Zimerofsky and Nolan Plesnarski stretch the floor, and Camden Rogers steadies the backcourt. Depth pieces like Brandon Adams and Shane Fessler allow Minersville to maintain pressure without sacrificing structure.

This game likely will be decided in the margins.

Blue Mountain wants a controlled battle, while Minersville thrives when it creates turnovers and converts in transition. Both teams are comfortable in tight games - and both understand how thin the line becomes in February.

What's at Stake

By the end of tonight, history won't be abstract - it'll be immediate.

A spot in the Schuylkill League championship game awaits, along with a chance to add to programs that already carry deep postseason legacies.

Martz Hall has long been the proving ground for that next step, and as past semifinals have shown, this round often proves tougher than the final itself.

Four teams arrive confident. Two will leave with unfinished business.

6 p.m. can't come soon enough.

Schuylkill League Boys' Basketball Playoff Preview Capsules

Pottsville (17-6) vs. Tri-Valley (20-2)

When: Today (Feb. 11), 6 p.m.

Where: Martz Hall, Pottsville

TV/Radio: Game will be simulcast on both WPPA (1360 AM / 105.9 FM) and T-102 (101.9 FM) with Chaz Hepler and Ty Wartman on the call.

Live updates: Follow T102 Sports Now reporter Eli Doyle on X @IamEliDoyle and get score updates on the T102 Sports Now Facebook page.

Tickets: All tickets for the Schuylkill League playoffs will be cash sales at the door. Cost is $6 for adults, $3 for students. There will NOT be a Senior Citizen discount.

Up Next: Winner faces Minersville-Blue Mountain winner in Schuylkill League championship at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Martz Hall

About Pottsville

Head coach: Tyler Heffner

How they got here: Defeated Nativity 64-21 in quarterfinals

Scoring Averages: Offense, ~ 57 ppg; Defense, ~ 45 ppg

Projected starting five: F Christian Alvarez, sr. (17.7 ppg, 27 3-pt FG), F Ryder Bowers, sr. (11 ppg, 65 3-pt FG), C Davey Kunstek, sr. (10 ppg, 13 3-pt FG), G Chris Hobbs, jr. (5.4 ppg, 22 3-pt FG), G Josh Kimber, jr. (3.3 ppg, 8 3-pt FGs)

Key reserves: G/F Colin McGinley, jr. (3.2 ppg, 15 3-pt FG), G Andrew Allen, jr., F/C JuJu Bainbridge, sr., G Brody Herndon, sr., F/C Max Clews, jr., F/C Brandon Viars, sr.

About Tri-Valley

Head coach: Mike Masser

How they got here: Division II champions, quarterfinals bye

Scoring Averages: Offense, ~ 71 ppg; Defense, ~ 56 ppg

Projected starting five: G Owen Miller, sr. (5.6 ppg, 9.1 assists per game), G Braeden Doyle, sr. (22.2 ppg, 6.1 rebounds per game, 3.4 assists per game), G Gavin Klock, sr. (12.2 ppg, 3.6 rebounds per game), F Cooper Carl, sr. (7.6 ppg, 8.1 rebounds per game), F Trey Porter, jr. (16.2 ppg, 8.2 rebounds per game

Key reserves: G Kingsley Johnson, so. (12.5 ppg, 3.2 rebounds per game), F Kolten Clemmer, fr.

Game Notes

Pottsville and Tri-Valley did not meet during the regular season, adding a layer of unfamiliarity to a semifinal with big stakes. The Dawgs average over 70 points per game, but Martz Hall's wider floor could subtly change spacing and transition angles compared to some of the tighter regular-season gyms Tri-Valley sees. That said, most of these players have already logged meaningful minutes in the "Mecca" during previous league and District 11 playoff runs, so the stage won't overwhelm them. Alvarez vs. Doyle headlines the matchup, but the game could hinge on stretching defenses from the perimeter. Key questions: Can Pottsville dictate tempo and limit Tri-Valley's runs? And how quickly do the Dawgs adjust to the bigger floor and thrive under postseason pressure?

Blue Mountain (16-7) vs. Minersville (21-1)

When: Today (Feb. 11), 7:30 p.m.

Where: Martz Hall, Pottsville

TV/Radio: Game will be simulcast on both WPPA (1360 AM / 105.9 FM) and T-102 (101.9 FM) with Chaz Hepler and Ty Wartman on the call.

Live updates: Follow T102 Sports Now reporter Eli Doyle on X @IamEliDoyle and get score updates on the T102 Sports Now Facebook page.

Tickets: All tickets for the Schuylkill League playoffs will be cash sales at the door. Cost is $6 for adults, $3 for students. There will NOT be a Senior Citizen discount.

Up Next: Winner faces Pottsville-Tri-Valley winner in Schuylkill League championship at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Martz Hall

About Blue Mountain

Head coach: Dustin Werdt

How they got here: Defeated Schuylkill Haven 64-54 in quarterfinals

Scoring Averages: Offense, ~ 60; Defense, ~ 41 ppg

Projected starting five: G Tyeirre Meade, sr. (18.3 ppg, 17 3-pt FG), F Cohen Werner, jr. (11.5 ppg, 14 3-pt FG), F Cohen Kirby, so. (9.9 ppg), G Evan Setlock, sr. (5 ppg, 9 3-pt FG), G Sean Gaddy, sr. (5 ppg., 7 3-point FG)

Key reserves: G Beck Henninger, jr. (30 3-pt FG), G/F Caden Wargo, so., F Vince DiSante Sr., G Lucas Pritiskutch, jr.

About Minersville

Head coach: Chris George

How they got here: Division I champions, quarterfinals bye

Scoring Averages: Offense, ~ 65 ppg; Defense, ~ 45 ppg

Projected starting five: G Shazier Bethea (22 ppg, 6.8 rebounds per game, 5 assists per game, 68 steals, 35 3-pt FG), sr., F Nolan Plesnarski (7.5 ppg, 49 3-pt FG), sr., G Chase Zimerofsky (11.5 ppg, 35 3-pt FG), jr., G/F Jordan Bowers (14.8 ppg, 5.5 rebounds per game, 3.3 assists per game, 53 steals, 26 3-pt FG), jr., G Camden Rogers (4.6 ppg, 2 assists per game, 15 3-pt FG), jr.

Key reserves: G/F Brandon Adams (15 steals), sr., G Shane Fessler (3.5 ppg, 21 steals, 12 3-pt FG), sr., C Jacob Mealey, sr., F Zach Seddon, so.

Game Notes

Minersville swept the regular-season series as stated. Blue Mountain is seeking its seventh league title (1974, 1975, 2003, 2007, 2017, 2023), while the Battlin' Miners are trying to bring home their first. Bethea vs. Meade has potential to be an all-time, marquee individual matchup. Underrated stars, Henninger and Plesnarski could swing momentum with one hot stretch. Rebounding and second-chance points will be critical - especially with Kirby and Bowers leading battles in the paint. Key questions: Can Blue Mountain slow Bethea in transition? Will the third time be a charm for the Eagles?

From that point on, Pottsville's defense completely took over.

"It felt like in the second quarter we started getting out in transition on them," Heffner said. "I thought we were wearing on them a little bit, and if we got off to a good start in the second half, we could really put it away. Our kids responded. We had some guys step up and play really well. We've been on Davey a lot - he's a very hard worker - but we've emphasized being physical inside and getting the ball in the paint. We knew if we could get it in early, we could get some good looks outside later."

Nativity did not make a field goal after the first quarter, scoring its final 13 points entirely at the free-throw line. The Tide's pressure, length and rotation-heavy defense smothered passing lanes and eliminated clean looks, forcing rushed possessions and heavily contested shots.

Pottsville capitalized on the stops, steadily building separation. The Tide pushed the lead to 31-15 by halftime, then blew the game open in the third quarter. Bowers drilled another 3 to open the half, and Pottsville outscored Nativity 21-5 in the period to remove any doubt.

Inside, Alvarez and Kunstek were dominant, controlling the paint on both ends and finishing through contact. Alvarez led all scorers with 22 points, while Kunstek added 16. Bowers finished with 11, knocking down three triples that stretched the defense.

Pottsville's defensive effort was bolstered by its depth, with Andrew Allen, Max Clews and JuJu Bainbridge providing energy and physicality without any drop-off as the Tide continued to apply pressure.

For Nativity, Trey Keating accounted for 18 of the team's 21 points, going 12-for-17 at the free-throw line, but the Hilltoppers were unable to generate consistent offense once Pottsville locked in defensively.

The win sends Pottsville to Wednesday's Schuylkill League semifinals against Division II champion Tri-Valley (20-2), while serving as a statement performance built on defense, depth and interior control.

"Enjoy tonight, because come tomorrow we have a really, really good Tri-Valley team that does a lot of good things," Heffner said. "They can get out and run the floor, so it's a whole new challenge - and we're excited for it."

Game Summary

Schuylkill League Quarterfinals

Pottsville 64, Nativity 21

At Martz Hall

NATIVITY (21) - Clarke 0 0-0 0, Bowman 0 0-0 0, Pasker 0 1-2 1, Lutzkanin 1 0-0 2, Swartz 0 0-0 0, Kalkiewicz 0 0-0 0, Kramer 0 0-0 0, Holley 0 0-0 0, Keating 3 12-17 18, Shimko 0 0-0 0. Totals 4 13-19 21.

POTTSVILLE (64) - Hobbs 1 0-0 3, McGinley 2 0-0 5, Allen 0 0-0 0, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 1 0-0 2, Alvarez 9 4-4 22, Bowers 4 0-0 11, Kunstek 6 4-5 16, Clews 0 0-0 0, Kimber 1 0-0 3, Viars 0 0-0 0, Oswald 0 2-2 2, Baker 0 0-0 0, Leskin 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 10-11 64.

3-point FGs: Hobbs, McGinley, Bowers 3, Kimber

Officials: Litwhiler, Corado, Onushco

The loss also marked a rare skid for Pottsville, which dropped back-to-back league games for the first time since the 2022-23 season. The Crimson Tide last suffered consecutive league losses on Feb. 3, 2023, against Blue Mountain 65-50, followed by a Feb. 7, 2023, loss to North Schuylkill 51-46.

For the Spartans, the victory carried postseason implications. With the win, North Schuylkill officially secured a spot in the District 11 Class 4A playoff tournament.

POTTSVILLE (50) - Hobbs 1 1-2 3, McGinley 1 1-2 4, Allen 0 0-0 0, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Leskin 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 6 9-12 22, Bowers 4 3-3 13, Kunstek 3 0-0 6, Clews 1 0-0 2, Kimber 0 0-2 0. Totals 16 14-23 50.

NORTH SCHUYLKILL (52) - Cairo 1 0-0 3, Damiter 2 0-0 5, Maziekas 4 0-0 10, Mengel 0 2-2 2, Kacilowicz 2 0-2 5, Nelson 5 0-1 10, McNally 5 3-6 13, Cabral 1 1-2 4, Gallagher 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 6-13 52.

3-point FGs: McGinley, Alvarez, Bowers 2, Cairo, Damiter, Maziekas 2, Kacilowicz, Cabral

Officials: Marquardt, Pincin, Litwhiler

JV Score: Pottsville 49-38

North Schuylkill 52, Pottsville 50

In a notable upset, the North Schuylkill Spartans took down the Pottsville Crimson Tide on Friday night, 52-50.

The Spartans were led by 13 points from Xavier McNally, while Julian Nelson had 10 points, as did Jude Maziekas.

Pottsville saw Christian Alvarez score 22 points and Ryder Bower had 13, but no other Crimson Tide scorer finished with more than six.

PUBLISHED: January 20, 2026 at 11:33 PM EST | UPDATED: January 21, 2026 at 1:22 PM EST

Fans in attendance for Tuesday evening's clash between the Minersville Battlin' Miners (14-1, 10-1) and Pottsville Crimson Tide (13-4, 9-1) got their money's worth and more, as they witnessed another Martz Hall classic.

With two of the Schuylkill League's premier talents in Shazier Bethea and Christian Alvarez combining for 57 points, Minersville and Pottsville needed all four quarters and overtime to find a winner. The Battlin' Miners eventually pulled out a 62-58 win, taking sole possession of first place, at least for now.

The Battlin' Miners were led in the game by star Shazier Bethea, who put together a tremendous 30-point performance in the win.

In Tuesday night's matchup, Pottsville jumped ahead early to an 8-2 lead thanks to a pair of three-pointers in the opening minutes, but Minersville, as they did throughout the night, remained calm and fought their way back. After trailing by six early, the Battlin' Miners scored eight of the next 13 points in the first quarter to send the game into the second quarter, trailing 13-12.

The Battlin' Miners tied the game up for the first time on Tuesday at the 4:00 minute mark of the second quarter as Nolan Plesnarski hit a three, tying the game at 17-17. It was Plesnarski's only score of the night, but it was a pivotal one at the time.

Late in the quarter, the Battlin' Miners used a 10-0 run, which included three straight Pottsville possessions resulting in Minersville points to take a 27-20 lead with under a minute to go in the half. Pottsville, however, did not go quietly into the break as both Andrew Allen and Christian Alvarez made three-pointers in the final minute to send the game to halftime 27-26.

Coming out of the break, Pottsville started the half on a 6-0 run to take a 32-27 lead before Minersville answered back quickly, retaking the lead moments later at 34-34 on a Camden Rogers three. From there, it would be consistent back-and-forth action, no team enjoying more than a three-point lead over the final 10 minutes of regulation.

The fourth quarter and overtime were the Shazier Bethea, and Christian Alvarez show. Two of the front-runners for Schuylkill League Player of the Year, Bethea and Alvarez, did what you expect star players to do. When the lights are on, they shine the most.

Bethea shone in the fourth quarter and overtime, completely taking the game over, scoring 15 of his 30 points. It also accounted for 15 of Minersville's 23 total points over the final 12 minutes of action.

Alvarez was stellar as well, scoring 12 of the Crimson Tide's 19 total points in the fourth quarter and overtime as part of a 27-point night, which included four made three-pointers.

Late in the fourth quarter, with under a minute to go, Pottsville found themselves ahead 52-49. Bethea made it just a one-point with 10 seconds remaining with a floater,

On Pottsville's ensuing possession, Josh Kimber fouled, made one of two free throw attempts, allowing the Battlin' Miners to have an opportunity to tie or win the game.

With seconds to go, Bethea scored his most emphatic points of the night, driving from the perimeter to the rim, throwing down a game-tying dunk with just less than two seconds to play, tying the game at 53-53 to send it into overtime.

In overtime, Minersville struck first, with a Camden Rodgers free throw before Ryder Bowers put the Crimson Tide back in the lead, 56-54, with his fourth made three of the night.

But it was ultimately the Miners' night as they put together a 6-0 run thanks to four points from Bethea as well as a layup from Jordan Bowers to take a 60-56 lead with under a minute to go. A Christian Alvarez bucket with 12 seconds remaining put the Crimson Tide within two at 60-58, but a pair of Bethea free throws, giving him his 29th and 30th points of the night on the ensuing Minersville possession, sealed the win for the Miners.

It was a performance from Bethea that Minersville fans and head coach Chris George have grown accustomed to seeing, although it doesn't make it any less special.

"He's just an awesome kid," George said after Minersville's win. "He's the hardest worker on the team; he's putting in extra time all the time."

Christian Alvarez had another stellar performance of his own for Pottsville with 27 points, which included four made three-pointers. The Crimson Tide forward had 15 points through the first three frames before taking over the Pottsville offense in the fourth quarter and overtime with 12 of the Crimson Tide's 19 total points.

Junior forward Jordan Bowers also contributed in major ways for the Battlin' Miners with 18 points in the win. While Bethea closed the game out for the Battlin' Miners, Bowers did plenty of heavy lifting early on with 14 points through the first three quarters.

George will be the first one to tell you that it was a complete team effort.

"We were locked in," he said. "And we spent a lot of time on the mental stuff. We spent a lot of time just believing, and I think these kids have it. They're great athletes, they're great kids. And it's a team game."

For Minersville, it's a win that not only puts the Battlin' Miners atop the Division I standings but also continues to help them set the pace in the District 11 power rankings.

"We knew there was a lot at stake here-probably the number one seed in the league here on the line. Maybe the top seed in districts for us," George said. "We try to focus on one game at a time, one quarter, one play at a time. But in the same way, we do try to communicate with our kids and tell them where we are, and let them know what's at stake in these situations. So they definitely stepped up."

Minersville, now at 14-1 on the season, has just six regular-season contests remaining. They'll be back in action on Friday evening in Mahanoy when they take on the Mahanoy Area Golden Bears.

Pottsville, looking to bounce back from just its fourth loss of the season, will take on North Schuylkill on the road in Fountain Springs on Friday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

After another defensive stop, Bethea calmly knocked down two free throws. Alvarez answered yet again with a second-chance bucket to make it 60-58, but Bethea sealed the win at the line with two more free throws. Pottsville's final attempt came up empty.

Jordan Bowers finished with 18 points for Minersville, while Rogers, Adams and Fessler provided key contributions off the bench.

Alvarez matched Bethea blow for blow, finishing with 27 points, including four 3-pointers, while Hobbs and Ryder Bowers added 10 and 12 points, respectively, for Pottsville.

Eight lead changes after the first quarter told the story of a game that lived on the edge from start to finish - one that may loom large when the league playoff picture comes fully into focus in February.

Game Summary

Minersville 62, Pottsville 58, OT

At Martz Hall

MINERSVILLE (62) - Adams 0 0-0 0, Rogers 1 1-2 4, Zimerofsky 1 0-0 2, Fessler 2 1-1 5, Bethea 12 5-6 30, J. Bowers 6 5-5 18, Mealey 0 0-0 0, Plesnarski 1 0-0 3. Totals 20 12-14 62.

POTTSVILLE (58) - Hobbs 3 1-2 10, McGinley 0 0-0 0, Allen 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 9 3-3 27, R. Bowers 4 0-0 12, Kunstek 1 1-2 3, Clews 0 0-0 0, Kimber 2 2-4 6, Viars 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 7-11 58.

3-point FGs: Rogers, Bethea, Bowers, Plesnarski, Hobbs 3, Alvarez 4, Bowers 4

Officials: Rizzo, Groody, Senunas

JV Score: Pottsville 63-23

POTTSVILLE - The Crimson Tide got off to a slow start, but an offensive surge in the fourth quarter, and a career-high 33 points from Christian Alvarez, propelled Pottsville to a 67-60 Division I league win over Blue Mountain Tuesday.

"Having my teammates' and coaches' trust is important," Alvarez said. "They look to me to get to the bucket and make plays and that's what I do. We knew we had to play fast tonight."

"We knew we had to take care of the ball tonight and we had to drive and play at our pace and I'm proud of the way our ballhandlers handled the pressure tonight," Pottsville coach Tyler Heffner said.

Blue Mountain (9-6; 5-4) jumped out to an 8-0 lead midway through the first quarter after Tyeirre Meade three and a layup back-to-back.

Chris Hobbs rolled in a layup for Pottsville's 8-5 deficit midway through the first.

Pottsville clawed its way back and cut the deficit to one point when Alvarez hit a 3-pointer to make it 14-13, but Blue Mountain responded and took a 17-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.

"We were down early and knew we couldn't press, and just had to play our game," Alvarez said. "Just trusting in ourselves was important tonight."

The Crimson Tide opened the second quarter on a 5-0 scoring run, and took an 18-17 on a 3-pointer by Hobbs with six minutes left in the first half.

"Chris has been hitting big shots all season so it's just trusting in ourselves," Alvarez said. "We're great friends and we work well together on the court."

The teams went back and forth throughout the second quarter, and Blue Mountain held a 31-30 lead at the break.

"Blue Mountain is a great defensive team, they force a lot of turnovers and we knew that going into the game," Alvarez said. "We just had to be smart and patient with the ball to get our shots."

Ryder Bowers hit a three to put Pottsville ahead 36-35 just over two minutes into the third quarter before Meade rolled in a layup and Beck Henninger hit a 3-pointer to take a 44-38 lead.

"We just had to weather the storm and it's something our guys have done all year and they're really steady," Heffner said. "We were able to slow things down and play at our pace."

The Crimson Tide surged up the court in the fourth quarter. Alvarez scored 14 points and Pottsville outscored Blue Mountain 25-13 in the final eight minutes.

"He's unbelievable and I feel like he's taken a step forward this season and he gets his teammates involved," said Heffner. "He's made incredibly big plays for us all year."

Blue Mountain never went away, though. Cohen Kirby banked in a layup to make it a 54-52 game with two minutes left, but Pottsville's Josh Kimber and Alvarez ended the game at the free throw line.

Alvarez led all scorers with 33 points, while Kimber scored 10 points and Hobbs had nine points for Pottsville.

Tyeirre Meade scored a team-high 26 points for Blue Mountain, and Cohen Kirby added nine points.

Both teams will be back in action in road contests on Friday.

Pottsville will tip off against the Blue Raiders at 7 p.m., and Blue Mountain will take on Minersville at 7:30.

Blue Mountain 60 - Meade 10 4-7 26, Setlock 3 0-0 7, Kirby 4 1-3 9, Pritiskutch 0 0-0 0, Disante 0 0-0 0, Singh 0 0-0 0, Werner 2 0-0 5, Henninger 2 0-0 6, McDonough 0 0-0 0, Wargo 1 0-0 3, Schuster 0 0-0 0, Gaddy 2 0-0 4. 24 4-9 60.

Pottsville 67 - Hobbs 3 1-2 9, McGinley 0 0-0 0, Allen 0 1-2 1, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 2 0-0 4, Leskin 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 10 10-10 33, Bower 2 0-0 6, Eroh 0 0-0 0, Kunstek 1 0-0 2, Clews 1 2-2 4, Kimber 2 3-4 8, Viars 0 0-0 0, Dewald 0 0-0 0, Baker 0 0-0 0. 19 17-20 67.

Christian Alvarez posted a career-high 33 points and hit a three to give the Crimson Tide (12-3; 8-0) a 50-44 lead two minutes into the fourth quarter to mark an 8-0 scoring run.

"Having my teammates and coaches trust is important and they look to me to get to the bucket and make plays and that's what I do," said Alvarez. "We knew we had to play fast tonight."

• Pottsville outscored Blue Mountain (9-6; 5-4) 25-13 in the fourth quarter for the seven point win. Josh Kimber and Alvarez combined for 21 points in the fourth quarter.

Blue Mountain never went away as Cohen Kirby banked in a layup for the two point deficit with two minutes left before Pottsville's Josh Kimber and Alvarez ended the game at the free throw line.

"We knew we had to take care of the ball tonight and we had to drive and play at our pace and I'm proud of the way our ballhandlers handled the pressure tonight," said Pottsville head coach Tyler Heffner.

Chris Hobbs hit a three for the 18-17 lead with a minute left in the first half to mark a 5-0 scoring run in the second quarter. Alvarez finished the game hot and scored 14 points in the fourth quarter.

"Chris has been hitting big shots all season so it's just trusting in ourselves," said Alvarez. "We're great friends and we work well together on the court."Alvarez led Pottsville's offense with 33 points, Kimber added 10 points and Hobbs scored nine points. Blue Mountain was led by Tyeirre Meade's 26 points and Cohen Kirby's nine points.

Blue Mountain jumped out to an 8-0 lead midway through the first quarter after a Meade three and layup. Hobbs rolled in a layup for Pottsville's 8-5 deficit midway through the first.

Alvarez hit a three to bring it within a 14-13 deficit but Blue Mountain took a 17-13 lead at the end of the first quarter behind Meade's eight points.

"He's (Alvarez) unbelievable and I feel like he's taken a step forward this season and he gets his teammates involved," said Heffner. "He's made incredibly big plays for us all year."

The Crimson Tide began the second quarter on a 5-0 scoring run after a Hobbs three for the 18-17 lead with six minutes left in the first half.

"We just had to weather the storm and it's something our guys have done all year and they're really steady," said Heffner. "We were able to slow things down and play at our pace."

Alvarez hit a three for the 26-25 deficit while Blue Mountain's Cohen Werner and Beck Henninger each hit three's for the 31-30 halftime lead.

"Blue Mountain is a great defensive team, they force a lot of turnovers and we knew that going into the game," said Alvarez. "We just had to be smart and patient with the ball to get our shots."

Ryder Bowers hit a three to put Pottsville ahead 36-35 just over two minutes into the second half before Meade rolled in a layup and Henninger hit a three for the 44-38 lead.

The Crimson Tide surged up the court in the fourth when they outscored Blue Mountain 25-13 while being led by Alvarez's 14 points, including a three-pointer.

"We were down early and knew we couldn't press and just had to play our game," said Alvarez. "Just trusting in ourselves was important tonight."

Alvarez hit a layup and then knocked down a three for the 50-44 lead with five minutes left in the game. Meade and Kirby then posted layups to bring it within a 54-52 difference.

Alvarez and Kimber went downhill and got to the free throw line, combining for 14 free throws in the fourth quarter, for the 67-60 win.

Pottsville travels to Tamaqua Friday at 7 p.m. and Blue Mountain hits the road to take on Minersville Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Blue Mountain 60 - Meade 10 4-7 26, Setlock 3 0-0 7, Kirby 4 1-3 9, Pritiskutch 0 0-0 0, Disante 0 0-0 0, Singh 0 0-0 0, Werner 2 0-0 5, Henninger 2 0-0 6, McDonough 0 0-0 0, Wargo 1 0-0 3, Schuster 0 0-0 0, Gaddy 2 0-0 4. 24 4-9 60.

Pottsville 67 - Hobbs 3 1-2 9, McGinley 0 0-0 0, Allen 0 1-2 1, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 2 0-0 4, Leskin 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 10 10-10 33, Bower 2 0-0 6, Eroh 0 0-0 0, Kunstek 1 0-0 2, Clews 1 2-2 4, Kimber 2 3-4 8, Viars 0 0-0 0, Dewald 0 0-0 0, Baker 0 0-0 0. 19 17-20 67.

The Conrad Weiser Scouts and the Pottsville Crimson Tide will compete for holiday cheer at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Conrad Weiser is coming into the matchup on a three-game losing streak.

Conrad Weiser is headed into the contest having just suffered their biggest loss since December 7, 2024 on Tuesday. They might have been a little too into the holiday spirit, gifting Muhlenberg an easy 69-45 victory. While losing is never fun, the Scouts can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Pennsylvania basketball rankings (they are ranked 269th, while the Muhls are ranked 59th).

Pottsville not only won on Thursday, but they posted their biggest win since January 24th (when they won 65-29). They breezed past Pine Grove to the tune of 61-33. With the Crimson Tide ahead 42-17 at the half, the game was all but over already.

Pottsville has been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 5-2 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 55.3 points over those games. As for Conrad Weiser, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-5.

Conrad Weiser was able to grind out a solid victory over Pottsville in their previous matchup back in December of 2024, winning 85-77. Do the Scouts have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Crimson Tide turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.

By Quinn Burkitt | qburkitt@republicanherald.com | Republican Herald

PUBLISHED: December 16, 2025 at 3:30 PM EST | UPDATED: December 16, 2025 at 3:59 PM EST

Christian Alvarez was the latest to place his name in Pottsville's basketball history books Monday night when he scored his 1,000th career point.

Alvarez has led Pottsville (4-2; 4-0) to an undefeated record in Division I league play after Monday's 56-35 win over North Schuylkill and is averaging a team-best 15.7 points per game.

"I've coached Christian for years since he was in junior high and he's an incredibly hard working kid," Pottsville coach Tyler Heffner said. "He's the perfect kid to coach and I couldn't be happier for him and he's worked really hard over the years and he's everything you want in a kid and we look forward to him scoring a lot more for us."

• Alvarez dropped 18 points in Monday's game. His season-high came on Dec. 8 in a 24-point performance against Tamaqua.

"I just want to be a leader as best as I can for the team, and whatever I need to do for the team, I'll do," Alvarez said. "I'm just blessed for the players and coaches I've been with throughout my career and I just want to thank all of them."

Alvarez has been a key piece to the Crimson Tide's recent success.

The senior led the way with 14 points in a 33-30 win over Bangor to capture the 2025 District 11 Class 5A Championship

He also scored 11 points to lead the Crimson Tide to a 50-43 win over Minersville in last season's Schuylkill League Championship..

00:00"He does more than just score, and he's an unbelievably intelligent player, and he positions himself really well, and rebounds really well," Heffner said. "It's good to see him taking the initiative and being that guy for us."

Alvarez has totaled 94 points through six games this season.

The senior has helped lead Pottsville to a 56-33 overall record during his career, including a 21-7 overall finish last season, which ended with a loss in the first round of the state playoffs.

"I love coming to practice every day, and playing at Martz Hall is truly a blessing," Alvarez said. "My coaches and teammates make everything easier for me and this is the most memorable part of my career so far."

Alvarez's production picked up steam during his junior season when he played in a career-high 28 games and averaged 14.8 points per game.

His 2024-25 season-high total was a 28-point output in a 62-47 loss to Mahanoy Area. He also scored 23 points in an 85-77 loss to Conrad Weiser. Alvarez enjoyed a 19-point performance in a 61-55 win against Nativity during his sophomore season.

The 1,000-point mark was on his radar entering his senior year, but Alvarez had his mind set on greater goals.

"I had a clue, and that wasn't really on my mind this season. I just wanted to get wins this season," Alvarez said. "I'm just blessed that I got it."

Alvarez currently ranks first on Pottsville's squad in field goal percentage and fourth with five three-pointers.

Alvarez and the Crimson Tide will travel to face Pine Grove on Thursday.

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley | dcallaghan-croley@republicanherald.com

PUBLISHED: December 10, 2025 at 9:51 AM EST

The Hazleton Area Cougars (2-2) earned their second win of the 2025-26 season on Tuesday night, defeating the Pottsville Crimson Tide (2-1) 63-58. The Cougars, playing their third game in five days, bounced back from a 79-42 loss to Philadelphia's Roman Catholic on Sunday.

Yoyo Moran led Hazleton with 19 points, including 13 points in the second half, thanks to a trio of three pointers. Oscaudy Vasquez also had a strong performance with 14 points, including four three-pointers made. Pottsville's Christian Alvarez led the Tide with 17 points while Ryder Bowers contributed 12 points, all coming from long distance.

"Our squad played a really good team," Hazleton coach Pat Brogan said. "They're well-coached, they're champions from last year, seven seniors. They're good."

"Our guys battled really hard," he continued. "They've had a tough schedule, too, but I'm very proud of our guys. They play very hard, very resilient. A lot of mistakes down the stretch, but they figured out a way to win the game. So I'm really proud of how they played."

Hazleton came out strong in the first quarter and led 16-10 after the first eight minutes of play. Utilizing plenty of ball movement and looking for high-percentage shots, the Cougars had six different scorers in the first quarter alone. With five games in three days, Brogan rotated players consistently throughout the games.

"I saw some guys a little bit tired tonight, so I got guys off the bench going," he said.

Despite the early deficit, Pottsville was not going to go away in Tuesday's game. The Crimson Tide, throughout the game, consistently answered back to Hazleton's small runs. In the loss, the Tide shot extremely well, including a total of seven three-pointers made in the game. Ryder Bowers was nearly automatic from beyond the arc with four three-pointers, including a trio in the fourth quarter.

"They're good. They can shoot, they're strong, and they're very tough kids," Brogan said about his team's struggles to put the Crimson Tide away in the game. "They run plays very efficiently-very few mistakes. They can all shoot the basketball, so that kept them in the game."

Early in the second quarter, the Cougars grew their lead to nine points at 22-13 thanks to back-to-back three pointers from Dylan Stish, who finished with 11 points in the Hazleton win. The Tide would slowly cut down the Hazleton lead and pull within one at 25-24 after a 7-0 run. Hazleton would grow it back to 29-24 before the Tide finished the half on a 5-3 run to head into halftime down 32-29.

Coming out of halftime, Hazleton quickly jumped on the Tide with a 9-4 run, growing their lead back to 41-34, including a trio of three-pointers from Oscaudy Vasquez and Yoyo Moran. Pottsville, facing a 44-36 deficit, would cut the Cougars' lead down to 44-43 late in the third quarter after a 10-0 run, including four points from David Kunstek.

In the fourth quarter, Pottsville would tie it up with a three-pointer right out of the gate, creating a sprint to the finish over the last eight minutes. The Tide would briefly take a 54-51 lead thanks to a three-pointer from Ryder Bowers, but Hazleton would nab the lead right back on back-to-back baskets from Edison Macko and Kendrick Ortiz, putting the Cougars up 56-54.

Late in the fourth quarter, Pottsville found themselves within three and had a chance to take the lead on a pair of Hazleton fouls, but made just 2-of-4 free throw attempts.

With under 20 seconds remaining, Bennett Lipzok made a pair of free throws, bringing the Tide within 61-58, but a YoYo Moran steal and layup on the other end would ice the game for the Cougars, giving them a 63-58 win.

Hazleton will be back in action on Saturday afternoon when it hosts the Reading Red Knights. Pottsville will take on Minersville on Thursday evening at Minersville.

 POTTSVILLE (58) - Hobbs 2 0-0 6, McGinley 0 0-0 0, Allen 1 0-0 3, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 6 5-6 17, Bowers 4 0-0 12, Kunstek 4 2-2 10, Clews 1 0-2 3, Kimber 3 0-0 7, . Totals 21 8-13 58.

Hazleton (63) -  Totals 23 5-5 63.

3-point FGs: Bowers 4,Hobbs,Clews,Kimber,Allen

Pottsville 53, Tamaqua 34

Christian Alvarez led Pottsville's offense with 24 points for a Division I home win over Pottsville Monday.

David Kunstek added 10 points for the Crimson Tide and Ryder Bower added another seven points.

Tamaqua's offense was led by Chance Makovec's 12 points, Gavin Edmonds' eight points and Donovan Broadway's five points.

The Blue Raiders knocked down six three-point baskets led by Edmonds and Makovec.

ORWIGSBURG - The Pottsville Crimson Tide started off their 2025-26 season on Thursday night with a 48-45 win over rival Blue Mountain.

The victory also marked the first for new Crimson Tide coach Tyler Heffner, who took over this offseason as the leader of the Crimson Tide after Jake Wartella's resignation this offseason.

Wartella led the program for five seasons, which included a 2024-25 Schuylkill League title, five Schuylkill League playoff appearances, and three PIAA playoff appearances.

The Crimson Tide had three scorers end with double-digit evenings, led by Christian Alvarez with 14 points. Ryder Bowers contributed 13 of his own, while Colin McGinley had 10 points.

Bowers was especially efficient in the win, with nine of his 13 points coming from three-point range while also going 2-for-2 at the free throw line.

The Eagles were led offensively by Cohen Werner with 14 points, while Tyeierre Meade recorded 12 points.

After finding themselves trailing 11-9 following the opening quarter of play, the Crimson Tide took a 13-11 lead early in the second quarter and never relinquished the lead.

Pottsville would outscore Blue Mountain 15-10 in the second quarter, with five points from both McGlinley and Bowers in the process.

Coming out of halftime, the Crimson Tide found success from deep with three three-pointers, including a pair from Bowers, as well as taking advantage of two Blue Mountain shooting fouls, making three of four attempts.

Despite the offensive success from Pottsville, Blue Mountain would keep pace with the Crimson Tide throughout the second half.

In the fourth quarter, the Eagles appeared to be on the verge of flipping momentum their way late in the game following a Cohen Werner make and free throw, cutting Pottsville's lead to 38-37.

But Pottsville quickly stopped any momentum as the Crimson Tide answered immediately with a three-pointer from Chris Hobbs that jump-started a 7-0 run, growing the Pottsville lead back out to 45-37.

Blue Mountain mounted one final push to tie the game or win it in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, playing smothering defense and forcing several Pottsville miscues, but the comeback effort fell just short.

"A really tough one to start," Heffner said after his team's win. "We knew obviously it's going to be really difficult coming here. We knew they were going to get their best efforts. Really good team."

The first year coach liked how his team was able to settle down after a slower start to the evening.

"I think we had some jittereas early, we were forcing a lot of things. I thought we settled in. I thoguht some of our seniors settled us down a little bit."

Most importantly, the Crimson Tide showed their depth on Thursday night with eight different Tide players finding their way onto the board.

"We had some contriutions from guys off the bench there that really helped us a lot in the second quarter there. It think it was a great team win."

Pottsville (1-0) returns to action next Monday, December 8, against the Tamaqua Blue Raiders, while Blue Mountain (0-2) will look to stop their two-game skid to open the season on Saturday against Schuylkill Valley in Leesport. The Eagles' next league contest is Monday night when they host the Minersville Battlin' Miners.