Time never melted so slowly off a clock for Minersville.
For Pottsville, it evaporated too quickly.
A late turnover in the waning moments of Tuesday night’s Schuylkill League semifinal at Martz Hall gave Pottsville the ball with 12.5 seconds left, trailing by one.
The Battlin’ Miners thwarted the Crimson Tide’s chance and survived for a 49-48 victory in what was simply another dose of Martz Madness.
Minersville (22-1) gets a chance to defend its Schuylkill League title Friday against Division I champion North Schuylkill, which defeated Marian 47-42 in the other semifinal Tuesday.
“It was tough because if they would’ve set up a screen, they would’ve been matched up, but we were forced to switch everything,” Minersville coach Jared Homa said of the final play.
It ended up working as Pottsville never got a shot off in the final 12 seconds.
“We knew we were down one at that point so we did draw up a play where we could get the ball into the playmaker’s hands, which we did to start with Sadie Cresswell,” Pottsville coach Rick Wojciechowsky said.
“We wanted to go hard to the rim if we didn’t have a good shot opportunity on the perimeter for our shooters. And we did that twice, but in the end we didn’t get the shot off that we wanted due to a few variables.”
The Crimson Tide got the ball in to Cresswell, the team’s leading scorer, but the look wasn’t there.
“We knew they were obviously going to try to get the ball to Sadie Cresswell. She’s a really great guard,” Minersville guard Abby Schoffstall said. “But we knew that really anyone was going to get the 3, so we just denied any 3s.”
Pottsville then tried to penetrate, but no shot presented itself and the ball was knocked free in the paint.
Players flung themselves onto the loose ball, but it squirted away and time expired.
“Playing in the Martz Hall atmosphere is something by itself,” said Homa, who earned his 100th career win Tuesday. “But every time, no matter where we play — Pottsville-Minersville — whether it be basketball, football, baseball, softball, it’s a great atmosphere. The towns are so
close. We’re happy to come away with the win tonight.”
The Crimson Tide (19-4) started the game with a 9-5 lead before Schoffstall tallied a three-point play on a one-handed hook off a drive.
Two Cresswell 3s bookended a Minersville eight-point run to keep Pottsville ahead 17-16 after one quarter despite nine points from Miners sophomore Sarah Nawrocki.
Schoffstall opened the second quarter with seven points and an assist to Adrienne Kroznuskie to give Minersville a three-point lead.
Hannah Burnhauser scored five straight points for Pottsville to give the Tide the lead again. Another Cresswell 3 ensured Pottsville a 32-30 halftime lead.
The Battlin’ Miners turned the tables in the third quarter, with freshman Maggie Wigoda leading the charge after Emily Mealey picked up her third foul. Wigoda scored six points in the quarter, which Minersville owned 12-6.
Wigoda put back a rebound and Nawrocki finished a drive that gave Minersville a 38-34 lead.
Schoffstall then lasered a pass to Wigoda under the basket that saw Minersville go ahead 40-36.
“Maggie is such an athlete,” Homa said. “She’s still learning everything, but her athletic ability is off the charts. She’s going to continue to grow. We probably put her in a tough spot when we started her late in the season but she’s responded big-time for us.”
The Schoffstall-Wigoda connection wasn’t done yet. Schoffstall lofted a pass to the 5-foot-10 freshman with 6:43 to play in the game, putting Minersville up 46-39 — the largest lead either team had all night.
Madison Sherakas hit a pair of baskets to get Pottsville within five (48-43) with six minutes to play.
After nearly four minutes of scoreless basketball, Burnhauser connected for a 3 and Sherakas rolled in a bucket with 30 seconds remaining to tie the game at 48.
Mealey hauled in a rebound with 17.4 seconds left and was fouled on the putback, sinking only the first free throw. Kondrack pulled in the rebound to set up Pottsville’s final chance.
Kondrack finished with a game-high 15 rebounds. Teammate Kyra Schenk added 10. Mealey hauled in 14 for Minersville.
Offensively, Schoffstall led all scorers with 16 points, while Nawrocki added 11.
Cresswell and Sherakas each tallied 12 to lead the Tide.
Minersville earned its fourth trip to the Schuylkill League championship since 1985. The Miners won their first league title last season by defeating Marian 61-46.
“It feels great,” Schoffstall said. “We’re excited to be here and hopefully we can get that W Friday.”
Game Summary
Schuylkill League semifinals
At Martz Hall
POTTSVILLE (48) — Sherakas 5 2-2 12, Eckley 2 1-2 5, Cresswell 3 3-4 12, Kondrack 2 0-0 4, Schenk 2 3-4 7, Burnhauser 3 0-0 8, Comfort 0 0-0 0, Tarconish 0 0-2 0. Totals 17 9-14 48.
MINERSVILLE (49) — Nawrocki 4 2-2 11, Schoffstall 7 1-4 16, Mealey 2 4-6 8, Kroznuskie 1 2-2 4, Wigoda 4 1-2 9, Bentz 0 0-0 0, Kriston 0 1-2 1, Polinsky 0 0-0 0, Ebert 0 0-0 0, Nettles 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 11-18 49.
Potts (19-4) 17 15 6 10 — 48 Miners (22-1) 16 14 12 7 — 49
3-point FGs: Cresswell 3, Burnhauser 2, Nawrocki, Schoffstall
Schuylkill League
basketball playoffs
All games at Martz Hall
GIRLS
Tuesday’s semifinal scores
Minersville 49, Pottsville 48
North Schuylkill 47, Marian 42
Friday’s championship
Minersville (22-1) vs. North Schuylkill (21-2), 6 p.m.
BOYS
Today’s semifinals
Tamaqua (18-4) vs. Minersville (18-3), 6 p.m.
Mahanoy Area (18-4) vs. Pottsville (22-0), 7:30 p.m.
Friday’s championship
Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.
Advance Tickets
Advance tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for student/senior citizens and will be sold at all participating schools during school hours. All tickets will cost $5 at the Martz Hall doors.
Get live updates
Follow tonight’s Schuylkill League boys’ basketball semifinals live online through social media updates on Twitter by Mike Carnahan (@mdcarnahan71) and Leroy Boyer (@Pubsportsboss).
— Boys’ capsules, Page 17