SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Fun and excitement is what the Schuylkill County Senior Charity Bowl is meant to bring, and that’s exactly what this year’s doubleheader served up.
The area’s senior girls’ and boys’ basketball players battled it out in the 41st edition of the annual event Friday, with the North sweeping the South in two close contests at the Penn State Schuylkill gymnasium.
The North girls overcame a 12-point deficit to earn a 53-48 win over the South in the opener, while the North boys topped the South 68-66 in a thrilling nightcap.
Schuylkill Haven’s Emma Schweigert scored a game-high 16 points in a losing effort for the South, while Panther Valley’s Macey Markovich paced the North’s offense with 11 points, including a trio of 3-pointers.
For the boys, North Schuylkill’s Justin Heaton netted his own trio of 3-pointers en route to a 15-point night for the North. Pottsville’s Travis Blankenhorn led the South with 12 points.
The first game began with the South girls opening up a 12-0 lead over the North before Markovich drained her first 3-pointer to get her team on the board.
The North closed its deficit to just five points as the South took a 24-19 lead into halftime.
“This was all for fun,” Markovich said of the game. “The first points just happened to be from me, but we all cheer for each other out there.”
Marian’s Abbey Whildin tied the game in the second half with a 3-pointer, and then Panther Valley’s Taylor Vance gave the North a 34-32 lead with just over 13 minutes left in the game.
Whildin finished with eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and Vance added four points for the North.
“I was kind of nervous coming into the game, because I’d never played with any of these girls before,” Whildin said. “But I think it ended up working out. It was a good way to end my high school career.”
The North girls never gave up their lead after that, outscoring the South 34-24 in the second half.
Nine different players scored at least once in the final 20 minutes for the North, as they spread the ball around to complete their come-from-behind victory.
“I’m so happy that we all got to play together,” Markovich said. “It’s the all-star game, so the fun isn’t just for me, it’s for everyone.”
The boys kept it close the whole way during the second game of the night. They let the 3-point shots fly, as the North and South combined for 26 total 3-pointers.
Heaton led the North in the first half with nine points, all from 3-pointers. Blankenhorn scored seven points for the South, who trailed 30-26 heading into halftime.
Blankenhorn’s most exciting shot came on an assist from Nativity’s Jeff Yordy, who bounced the ball off the backboard for Blankenhorn to dunk.
“This was definitely fun playing with all of the seniors around the league and my teammates one more time,” Blankenhorn said.
Tamaqua’s Bo Rottet finished with four 3-point baskets in the second half to give him 14 total points for the North.
With 15 seconds left in the game, and his team down 66-65, Rottet sank the game-winning 3-pointer to complete the sweep for the North.
“This was a good way to go out,” Rottet said. “It was nice to finally beat the Pottsville boys who were playing for the South. I think I was 0-80 against them in my career, so it was a fun time.”
Game Summaries
Senior Charity Bowl
At Penn State Schuylkill
Girls’ Game
SOUTH (48) — Connors 2 0-0 4, Eckley 2 0-0 4, Fanelli-Connors 1 0-0 2, Header 3 0-0 6, Scheib 2 0-0 4, Schweigert 7 1-2 16, Smith 3 0-0 6, Steinhilber 1 0-0 2, White 1 0-0 2, Wolff 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 1-2 48.
NORTH (53) — Davidson 2 0-0 4, Gregas 4 1-1 10, Long 0 0-0 0, Markovich 4 0-0 11, Marone 1 0-0 3, Nieddu 0 1-2 1, Snitzer 2 0-0 4, Solt 1 0-0 3, Stokes 2 0-0 5, Vance 2 0-0 4, Whildin 3 0-0 8. Totals 21 2-3 53.
South 24 24 — 48 North 19 34 — 53
3-point FGs: Schweigert, Gregas, Markovich 3, Marone, Solt, Stokes, Whildin 2
Boys’ Game
SOUTH (66) — Blankenhorn 5 0-0 12, Blugis 2 0-0 6, Hinchliffe 3 0-0 8, Miller 3 0-0 9, Nabholz 3 0-0 7, Painter 0 0-0 0, Piccioni 2 0-0 6, Webb 3 0-0 6, Yordy 4 0-0 10, Zemencik 1 0-0 2. Totals 26 0-0 66.
NORTH (68) — Carney 0 0-0 0, Dubosky 2 0-0 4, Hashin 2 0-0 6, Heaton 6 0-0 15, Kosciolek 4 0-0 8, McDonald 0 0-0 0, Mercado 6 0-0 13, Miller 2 0-0 6, Rottet 5 0-0 14, Tobin 1 0-0 2, Vermillion 0 0-0 0, Wesner 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 0-0 68.
South 26 40 — 66 North 30 38 — 68
3-point FGs: Blankenhorn 2, Blugis 2, Hinchliffe 2, Miller 3, Nabholz, Piccioni 2, Yordy 2, Hashin 2, Heaton 3, Mercado, Miller 2, Rottet 4