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Schuylkill League basketball teams are returning from the holiday time seeking deep postseason runs with the league playoffs set to begin on Saturday, February 7.
Pottsville and Tri-Valley’s boys remain undefeated in league play, while North Schuylkill and Mahanoy Area’s girls remain undefeated in league play.
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The District 11 playoffs begin on Saturday, February 14, and the PIAA state playoffs tip off on Saturday, February 28.
Below are the league’s top-performing teams as of Saturday, January 3:
Boys Basketball
Pottsville (8-3; 5-0 DI)
Christian Alvarez is currently leading Pottsville’s offense, averaging 17.3 points per game, as the Crimson Tide has won five of their last six matchups going back to a 54-35 win against North Schuylkill on Dec. 15.
Pottsville remains undefeated in Division I league play with wins over Blue Mountain, Tamaqua, Minersville, North Schuylkill, and Pine Grove.
Ryder Bowers is averaging 10.3 points per game for the Crimson Tide this season, while Dave Kunstek has contributed with 9.4 points per game.
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Minersville (8-1; 4-1 DI)
Minersville’s only loss so far this season was a 62-51 home loss to Pottsville on December 11.
The Battlin’ Miners have Division I league wins over Tamaqua, Blue Mountain, Mahanoy Area, Panther Valley, and Williams Valley.
Shazier Bethea led Minersville’s offense with 21 points in a 67-58 win at Williams Valley on December 22.
North Schuylkill (6-3; 3-2 DI)
North Schuylkill started the season undefeated in league play with wins over Panther Valley, Pine Grove, and Mahanoy Area.
Caden Mengel and Cam Kacilowicz each scored 14 points to lead the Spartans past Palisades on Dec. 30. Jude Maziekas has also been a difference maker up front this season.
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The Spartans are looking to rebound from Division I league losses to Pottsville and Minersville before the start of the holiday break.
Tri-Valley (9-1; 5-0 DII)
Tri-Valley remains the lone undefeated in Division II league play with wins over Williams Valley, Lourdes, Shenandoah Valley, Nativity, and Marian.
Braeden Doyle, Trey Porter, and Gavin Klock have been the Bulldogs’ offensive leaders so far this season.
The Bulldogs are currently on a three-game winning streak, going back to an 87-65 win over Pine Grove.
Schuylkill Haven (10-1; 4-1 DII)
Schuylkill Haven is on a four-game winning streak going back to a 71-35 win over Shenandoah Valley on Dec. 18.
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Alan Evans, Justin Watcher, and Max Heim have been go-to scoring threats this season for the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes have Division II league wins most recently over Shenandoah Valley, Marian Catholic, and Nativity.
Weatherly (6-2; 3-2 DII)
Weatherly is on a four-game winning streak, and last defeated Lourdes 66-48 on Dec. 18.
Niko Saldukas and Ian McKeegan each lead Weatherly’s offense with 14.7 points per game, while Dominic Kokinda is averaging 12.9 points per game.
The Wreckers have most recently defeated league opponents Lourdes and Shenandoah Valley and have a matchup at Tri-Valley on Monday, Dec. 5.
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Girls Basketball
North Schuylkill (6-2; 5-0 DI)
The Spartans came out on fire to start the season and remain undefeated in league play with season-opening wins over Panther Valley and Pine Grove.
North Schuylkill most recently lost to State College 45-28 on Dec. 30 and has an upcoming home matchup with Schuylkill Haven on Tuesday, Jan. 6.
Mya Conti, Gianna Capone, and Monica Selgrade have led the Spartans’ offense this season.
Schuylkill Haven (7-3; 5-0 DI)
Schuylkill Haven is looking to defend their league championship glory after their first league loss of the season at Marian on Jan. 2.
McKenna Runkle leads the Hurricanes’ offense with 13.8 points per game, while Kylie Siket has 10.9 points per game, and Audrey Hutchinson has notched 10.4 points per game.
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The Hurricanes have league wins over Tamaqua, Blue Mountain, Pottsville, Minersville, and Panther Valley.
Pine Grove (8-3; 4-1 DI)
Pine Grove won the Cardinal Classic Holiday Tournament with a 45-44 win over Eastern Lebanon County on Dec. 29.
Callee Leffler, Hollynn Sampson, and Lainey Fidler are leading the Cardinals’ offense.
Pine Grove has Division I league wins over Minersville, Panther Valley, Pottsville, and Tamaqua.
Mahanoy Area (7-1; 5-0 DII)
Mahanoy Area is one of two undefeated teams in Division II league play, along with Lourdes.
Felicia Bro scored her 1,000th career point in a 65-47 win over Panther Valley on December 3.
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The Golden Bears defeated Marian 49-33 on Dec. 12.
Lourdes (7-1; 4-0 DII)
Lourdes remains undefeated in Division II league play with a 51-18 win over Marian Catholic on Dec. 30.
The Red Raiders have league wins over Shenandoah Valley, Tri-Valley, Williams Valley, and Marian.
Hannah Lokitis leads Lourdes’ offense with 10.8 points per game.
Williams Valley (9-2; 2-2 DII)
Williams Valley and Marian are dueling for the final Division II league playoff spot as of now.
The Vikings rebounded from early losses against Lourdes and Mahanoy Area and defeated Pine Grove at home on Dec. 22.
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