Name: Eli Nabholz
High school: Pottsville Area High School
Grade: Senior
Sport: Boys’ basketball
Accomplishments: Scored 15 points in two games during Crimson Tide’s run through Schuylkill League playoffs, a 59-31 win over Mahanoy Area in the semifinals last Wednesday and a 33-28, overtime victory over Tamaqua in the championship game last Friday. Scored five points in overtime Friday, hitting go-ahead bucket and 3-of-4 from foul line. Also grabbed three defensive rebounds in overtime to help Pottsville seal the win.
Age: 17
Hometown: Pottsville
Family: Mary Jo (mother), John (father)
Athletes I admire: Tom Brady, Justin Verlander
Favorite sports teams: Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots
What grade did you start playing basketball: Kindergarten
How does playing basketball help with baseball: “Mostly in just competing. In baseball, especially as a pitcher, you start one day and then have five days off and start again, and then you have your whole offseason where you are just working out. In basketball offseason, we are not only getting stronger and better physically, but we are competing as well, learning how to compete a lot better in basketball. It definitely helps to stay in shape.’’
What are one or two things you’ve improved on this basketball season that helped you in Friday’s championship game: “I think just confidence wise, that was my biggest improvement. I think it helps fit into the team aspect a little bit more.”
How satisfying is it to win the league title knowing that Pottsville was the favorite all season: “This one was definitely the hardest because we were the favorite. Everybody was gunning for you and everybody had a plan to beat you. We just had to prepare that much harder.”
Goals for the rest of the season (Crimson Tide are No. 1 seed in District 11 Class AAA playoffs): “We are just worried about Friday night (versus tonight’s Blue Mountain-Lehighton winner). Right now, that is the most important thing and we will let the rest take care of itself. We just don’t want to stop playing. That is what it comes down to.”
Post-graduation plans: Attend Penn State University to play baseball and study political science.
Past winners
• Dec. 16 — Christian Gosch, Blue Mountain, wrestling
• Dec. 23 — Emily Mealey, Minersville, girls’ basketball
• Dec. 30 — Matthew Miller, Upper Dauphin, boys’ basketball
• Jan. 6 — Michael Logothetides, Pottsville, swimming
• Jan. 20 — Ian Cagle, Blue Mountain, wrestling
• Jan. 27 — Tyler Crum, Lehighton, boys’ basketball
• Feb. 3 — Tiff Lapotsky, North Schuylkill, girls’ basketball
• Feb. 10 — Mary Zimmerman, Schuylkill Haven, swimming