Tamaqua cruises past Pine Grove

Some pundits think the Schuylkill League Division 1 boys basketball race will be a two-team battle.

For people thinking that way, the Tamaqua’s boys’ basketball team is an afterthought.

Try selling that to Pine Grove. The Cardinals got plucked big time on Monday to the tune of 60-37.

The Blue Raiders, who have opened the season impressively at 8-1, were never threatened in this one as they improved to 2-0 in league play.

The way Tamaqua has come out of the chute, people might now have to reconsider its chances to challenge the league’s “Big 2” – Pottsville and Blue Mountain.

“We got a late start to the season but we have kids that have been playing together since they were in third grade,” said Tamaqua coach Jim Barron.

The “late start” Barron was referring to was due to the glorious run by the football team — and that momentum carried right to the hardwood.

Tamaqua jumped out to a 21-7 opening-quarter lead, and never looked back. It used plenty of balance up and down the lineup, as Braydon Knoblauch paced the Raiders with 17 points. Lucas Gregoire added 12, followed by Barron Stauffenberg’s 11 and Nate Boyle’s 10.

“You can see what type of balance we have up and down the lineup,” said Barron. “We can do a lot of things; but our defense is the key. We’ve got to play defense, get the help from everyone and not let teams get second and third shots.”

That was the case against the Cardinal, as Pine Grove managed but 23 rebounds, with only four off the offensive glass. Gregoire had a monster night with 14 boards, including five on the offensive side.

Tamaqua’s early getaway saw Nicko Bolletino, Stauffenberg and Lucas Gregoire each drain a bucket before Knoblauch zipped in a triple — one of his four on the contest.

When Pine Grove turned to rangy Josh Leininger for a triple and a deuce, they were able to pull to within 10-7, but in a heartbeat the Raiders reeled off the final 11 points of the quarter, which included eight points from Boyle.

“Nate gives us an added dimension,” said Barron. “His defense is very good, he can get up and down the floor, he works so well with everyone it’s a nice feel from him.”

Leading 29-18 at the half, Tamaqua put the game away in the third quarter, flooring the Cardinals with an impressive 14-2 run late in the period that featured Gregoire’s six points.

“That was a strong run at the end of the third,” said Barron. “Hopefully we can carry that type of play against Pottsville on Saturday.”

MERRY NOTES … The Raiders see the floor very well, share the ball, and their motion is very impressive.

DEFENDING … Tamaqua also displayed its defensive ability as its team quickness was evident.

JV VICTORY… Tamaqua won a close one in the opener 46-45. Luke Verta poured in 19 points and Brady Sherry added 10.

PINE GROVE

Lengle 0-0-0-0, Leininger 2-0-0-5, Boyer 1-2-2-4, Griffiths 2-0-1-5, Morgan 2-0-0-6, Ibarra 1-0-0-2, Hindman 0-0-0-0, D Geesey 1–0-0-2, Hlavaty 2-0-0-4, C Geesey 3-1-2-9. TOTALS: 14-3-5-37

TAMAQUA

Taras 0-0-0-0, Coleman 0-0-0-0, Verta 0-0-0-0, Knoblauch 5-3-3-17, Bollentino 2-0-0-5, Milot 0-0-0-0, Boyle 4-2-2-10, Sherry 0-0-0-0, Weider 0-0-0-0, Smith 0-0–0-0, N. Gregoire 1-0-0-2, L. Gregoire 3-5-10-12, Stauffenberg 4-0-0-11, Lavine 0-0-0-0, VanBuskirk 1-0-0-3. TOTALS: 20-8-15-60

Pine Grove 7 11 8 11 - 37

Tamaqua 21 8 20 11 - 60

Three-pointers: PG - Morgan 2, C Geesey 2, Leininger 1, Griffiths 1; T - Knoblauch 4, Stauffenberg 3, Bollentino 1, L Gregoire 1, VanBuskirk 1.