MOUNT CARMEL — North Schuylkill couldn’t have opened Wednesday’s non-league game against Mount Carmel with a better statement.
The Spartans pitched a shutout over the first eight minutes and held on for a 60-48 victory over the Red Tornadoes.
The result snapped a 17-0 start to the season for Mount Carmel, which was ranked No. 6 in the PennLive.com/Patriot-News Class AA girls’ basketball rankings.
North Schuylkill (16-2) jumped out to a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter in a fast-paced eight minutes.
“We talked about setting the tempo early on,” said Spartans coach John Rizzo, who earned his 100th career win. “We wanted to establish our game.”
North Schuylkill had no issues doing that, especially on defense.
Mount Carmel (17-1) shot 0-for-9 during the first quarter, and the Spartans made eight steals, often converting fast-break points off of them.
The Red Tornadoes, however, had chances to score points, but things didn’t go their way in the shooting department.
“I don’t know if it was nerves or what,” Mount Carmel coach Lisa Varano said. “I can’t really explain it when you have a quarter that bad. We missed a few shots, and they put their heads down.”
The rest of the game was much different for the Red Tornadoes, who outscored North Schuylkill 48-46 during the final three quarters.
But the damage was already done.
The third quarter swung more in Mount Carmel’s favor.
The Tornadoes put up 15 and cut the deficit to six points during the frame.
“I’m proud of the girls,” Varano said. “They could’ve quit, but instead they fought back to cut it to six points.”
Maura Fiamoncini led the small comeback, draining two treys in the second half and scoring 18 points in the game.
The Spartans grew their lead before the end of the third, going on
a 9-2 run and put themselves up 44-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
The final period was just a one-point difference, but North Schuylkill never let Mount Carmel get back into it, keeping at least a 12-point lead until the final buzzer.
With a much taller lineup, the Spartans dominated the boards with a 26-16 advantage.
Tiff Lapotsky led North Schuylkill with a game-high 25 points.
“Tiffany’s a heck of a ball-player,” Rizzo said. “She came out in a big moment. Good players come out in big games and she did that tonight.”
Carly Gregas added 18 points for the Spartans.
The loss keeps Mount Carmel away from an undefeated season, but Varano only sees that as a good thing.
“It gets the monkey off our back,” Varano said. “This game, in the long run, doesn’t affect us in playoffs or in the league. Of course, the girls wanted to win, but the loss won’t affect us too much.”
North Schuylkill, meanwhile, can now turn its attentions to closing out the Schuylkill League season and clinching the Division I crown.
The Spartans have Jim Thorpe, Tamaqua and Panther Valley remaining in the league schedule and non-league Williamsport.
Game Summary
NORTH SCHUYLKILL (60) — Lapotsky 9 5-9 25, Snyder 1 0-0 2, Jordan 3 1-1 8, Marone 2 0-0 4, Gregas 7 4-7 18, Stokes 0 2-2 2, Shinkus 0 1-2 1, Bell 0 0-0 0, Long 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 13-21 60.
MOUNT CARMEL (48) — Bolick 0 3-4 3, Stellar 2 2-2 7, Fiamoncini 7 0-0 18, Arellano 2 0-0 6, Parker 0 0-0 0, Varano 4 5-8 14, Winhofer 0 0-0 0, Kleman 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 10-14 48.
N. Sch. (16-2) 14 17 13 16 — 60 MCA (17-1) 0 16 15 17 — 48
3-point FGs: Lapotsky 2, Jordan, Fiamoncini 4, Arellano 2, Stellar, Varano