SHENANDOAH — The North Schuylkill boys’ basketball team is looking to establish a new identity for itself this season with a host of new faces, including three new starters.
Friday wasn’t perfect, but it was certainly a good start.
Tevin Murray scored 13 points to lead three Spartans in double figures, but it was an early defensive switch that allowed North Schuylkill to overcome an early deficit and pull away for a 60-43 victory over Shenandoah Valley.
The 6-foot-5 Murray scored 11 of his points in the second half, and added five rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
The Blue Devils (0-1) opened the game on an 8-3 run and led 13-9 after one quarter. North Schuylkill (1-0) switched to an aggressive 1-2-2, match-up zone and the game started to turn in the Spartans’ favor.
North Schuylkill went on a 13-5 run to begin the second quarter to go up 22-18. After the Blue Devils pulled within 25-23 late in the first half, the Spartans led 29-23 at the break.
North Schuylkill started the second half on 10-2 run to open up a 39-23 advantage. The closest the Blue Devils got the rest of the game was six at 41-34 late in the third quarter before the Spartans got their advantage back up to 45-34 at the end of the third.
“We pretty much ran with it most of the game,” North Schuylkill coach Curt Ziegmont said of the defense switch. “I thought we were effective on it. We took away from the dribble penetration. I think that was the key defensively.”
North Schuylkill ended up holding Shenandoah Valley to 16-for-46 (35 percent) shooting from the floor and forced 18 turnovers.
In his first high-school start, Justin Heaton added 12 points, six rebounds and three steals for the Spartans, while Major Jordan had 11 points and six boards.
North Schuylkill finished the night 21-of-42 (50 percent) shooting and outrebounded Shenandoah Valley 31-21.
Joel Santana had a game-high 14 points and five assists for the Blue Devils, while Ian McCole added 13 points, including three 3-pointers.
Shenandoah Valley is athletic, but also a young team with four new starters. Friday’s game couldn’t have started better.
McCole opened with back-to-back 3-pointers, while Santana was awarded a bucket on goaltending to give the Blue Devils their 8-3 lead.
Santana gave Shenandaoh Valley a 13-9 advantage after the first quarter when he rolled in a baseline layup with 2 seconds left.
“We had a dynamite first quarter,” Shenandaoh Valley coach Robbie Miller said. “We did everything we wanted to do offensively and defensively. It seemed like when North Schuylkill adjusted, we didn’t. They adjusted, they made the plays and counter-acted what we were doing offensively and defensively, where our guys kept thinking the same thing was going to happen.
“They outplayed us for three quarters.”
The Blue Devils were 4-for-14 from the floor in the second quarter but hung around and got to within 2 on a layup by Ricardo Chagolla off penetration by Santana. But Heaton scored on a layup, while John Mercado put in a reverse layup off the baseline to give the Spartans their 29-23 lead at the break.
North Schuylkill played 10 players Friday and all 10 contributed. Ryan Hillbish scored nine points, including seven straight in the second quarter. A drive gave North Schuylkill the lead for good at 20-18 with 3:07 left in the half. Hillbish followed with a steal and layup and later knocked down a 3-pointer.
Nine different players had rebounds for the Spartans, while eight players had steals.
“For the first game, you know it is not going to be pretty,” Ziegmont said. “We have to work on a lot of things, but overall I am pleased with a non-league road win.”
Game Summary
NORTH SCHUYLKILL (60) — Carney 1 1-2 1, Marlow 2 2-2 6, Hillbish 3 2-2 9, Murray 4 4-8 13, Mazur 0 0-0 0, Mercado 3 0-0 6, Smith 0 2-2 2, Mazeika 0 0-0 0, Heaton 4 0-1 12, Jordan 4 3-8 11. Totals 21 14-25 60.
SHENANDOAH VALLEY (43) — Santana 6 1-4 14, McNeil 2 0-0 6, McCole 4 2-2 13, Alvarez 1 0-0 2, Creasy 0 0-0 0, Chagolla 2 0-0 4, Alegretta 1 0-0 2, Ryan 0 2-2 2, Cabrera 0 0-0 0, Raisner 0 0-0 0, White 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 5-8 43.
N. Sch (1-0) 9 20 16 15 — 60 Shen. Val. (0-1) 13 9 11 10 — 43
3-point FGs: Hillbish, Murray, Heaton 2, Santana, McNeil 2, McCole 3
JV score: Shenandoah Valley 56-38