Searfoss, Hurley lead Jim Thorpe

POTTSVILLE — Jim Thorpe and Tamaqua have become very familiar with each other on the basketball court.

Wednesday night, the teams met for the sixth time in the last two seasons.

While the scripts of their recent games have changed, the end result hasn’t.

The Olympians made it six straight victories in the series, beating Tamaqua 63-45 in a District 11 Class 4A semifinal round game at Martz Hall.

The marquee matchup between the stars of both teams did not disappoint. Tamaqua’s Emma Kuczynski, who came in averaging 23 points per game, had a monster night, scoring 32 points. Meanwhile, JT’s Skyler Searfoss put 22 on her side of the scoreboard, including 15 of her team’s 26 first-half points.

“Coach said somebody needed to step up today, and I wanted to be the leader for our team,” said Searfoss, who took the ball to the hole several times, drawing four shooting fouls in the first half.

Mackenzie Yuhas started the scoring for the Olympians with a side court jumper, but Kuczynski’s bucket in the lane tied it 25 seconds later. Both teams played solid defense for the rest of the period. After Jamie Zuber’s baseline three, Tamaqua took its only lead on two free throws from Kuczynski. Searfoss’ two free throws in the final minute left the team tied at 11-11 after one quarter.

Thorpe’s vaunted zone defense thwarted the Raiders in the second period, however, holding them to just five shots from the floor for the entire period.

Sophia Boyle sank a trey at the 7:15 mark to bring the Raiders within one at 14-13, but the Olympians forced key turnovers and scored in transition as they began to take control.

Leah Hurley, who added 19 points to Thorpe’s victory, scored on a baseline lay up, and Searfoss nailed a three from behind the key to give the Olympians a 26-19 halftime advantage.

“Their zone defense gave us fits,” said Tamaqua coach Erika Davis. “We wanted to attack the gaps, play through the high post, and get some throwback shots, but we just couldn’t get it done.”

Kuczynski’s three at the start of the third cut Thorpe’s lead to four, but that would be the closest Tamaqua would get.

Olivia Smelas banked a basket off the glass, Leah Snisky scored on a layup, Hurley drilled a jumper, and Smelas scored again on a great pass from Hurley for an 8-0 Thorpe run that made it 34-22.

Jim Thorpe coach Rob Kovac was pleased with how his team rebounded from its recent offensive struggles.

“This was our best effort in a while,” he said. “We knew we were facing adversity tonight, and we passed with flying colors.”

Ahead by 10 heading into the final eight minutes, Thorpe put the hammer down with textbook passes that resulted in layup after layup. Hurley scored after a full court rush on a pretty feed from Mackenzie Yuhas, while Smelas scored underneath twice, once on a perfect pass down low from Hurley.

“When they went man, we took advantage in transition,” said Kovac. “Hurley had a big game and once we got into a rhythm, we pretty much dictated the play.

“Defensively, this was as good as we can play. If Kuczynski wasn’t so good, we probably would have won by more.”

RECENT FORM ... Tamaqua came into the game riding a seven-game winning streak, while the Olympians were just 2-2 in their previous four games.

SOLO ACT … Kuczynski didn’t receive much offensive support, as her teammates scored just 13 points combined. Only Boyle was able to manage more than one field goal.

SUPER SKYLER … Just how well did Searfoss play? She shot 7-for-8 from the floor, assisted on five of her teammate’s baskets, and added five steals.

REMATCH … Jim Thorpe will play top-seeded, and undefeated, Bethlehem Catholic for the second year in a row in the District 11 4A title game at 3 p m Saturday at Easton.

TAMAQUA

Zuber 1-0-0-3, Kane 1-0-0-2, Hromyak 0-0-0-0, Boyle 2-0-0-6, Titus 0-0-0-0, Frederickson 0-0-0-0, Kuczynski 10-8-9-32, Reinhardt 1-0-0-2. TOTALS: 15-8-9-45.

JIM THORPE

Cinicola 0-1-2-1, Scott 0-1-3-1, Snisky 2-2-2-6, Berger 0-0-0-0, Yuhas 2-0-0-4, Hurley 8-2-2-19, Searfoss 7-7-9-22, O. Smelas 4-2-4-10, H. Smelas 0-0-0-0, Craigie 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 23-15-22-63.

Tamaqua 11 8 13 13 - 45

Jim Thorpe 11 15 16 21 - 63

Three-pointers: Tamaqua - Kuczynski 4, Boyle 2, Zuber 1. Jim Thorpe - Hurley 1, Searfoss 1.