ORWIGSBURG - In an opening three minutes that saw both teams start a combined 0-for-8 from the field, high percentage baskets in the paint served as the remedy for Blue Mountain on Monday night.
Skyler Panchari, the key ingredient, provided a big lift in Blue Mountain's 54-30, Schuylkill League Division I win over Tamaqua as the 6-foot-4, 235-pound forward powered his way for 14 of his 17 points in the first half.
"He's doing a nice job finishing around the rim," said Blue Mountain head coach Dustin Werdt, whose team has won six straight and hasn't lost since a Jan. 4 defeat at Pottsville.
The victory kept the Eagles (12-2, 7-1 D-I) a half-game behind Pottsville (15-2, 7-0) in the Division I race and a game ahead of North Schuylkill (9-4, 6-2) in the battle for the Division I wild card.
Monday, the Eagles' big man was dominant inside.
Shortly after a Bo Rottet jumper gave Tamaqua a 5-4 lead, Panchari seized control with three straight inside conversions to give the Eagles a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Panchari's 14 first-half points helped the Eagles build a 27-13 halftime lead.
"He definitely came up big for us early," Werdt said.
The absense of 6-foot-7 Tamaqua big man Brett Kosciolek, who has now missed the last five games with a concussion, also made the Blue Raiders (9-7, 3-5 D-I) vulnerable in the paint versus the likes of Panchari.
Much of that first-half success was also due to the fact that Blue Mountain's defense held Tamaqua scoreless for nearly eight minutes of the first half.
Rottet, who finished with a game-high 19 points, scored all 13 of Tamaqua's points in the opening half despite being harassed by a combination of Eagles' defenders throughout the game.
Fighting and hedging through screens, Kyle Slane, Mark Chelius and Will Bornstein combined to harness the Blue Raiders' sharp-shooter throughout the game.
"Defensively I thought we did a great job on him," Werdt said.
"We couldn't say his name enough. He scored, but he had to really work for his 19 points. We had a bunch of guys guarding him. He is a really good player."
A Rottet 3-pointer with 1:43 remaining in the first half broke Tamaqua's long scoring drought that left the Blue Raiders with a double-digit deficit at halftime.
Eleven points would be as close as Tamaqua would get in the second half.
Bornstein, arguably the best athlete on the court Monday night, showcased some of his quickness as he streaked to the hoop for several layups in the second half. Bornstein, who created some of his offensive production from his defense, netted 10 of his 15 points in the second half.
"Will is a great athlete," Werdt said. "He's been getting to the rim really well."
Shane Grapsy (8 points) and Chelius (6) also contributed offensively for Blue Mountain, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers apiece.