HS Boys’ Basketball: Pottsville’s Watkins shines in defensive clash against Mahanoy Area
POTTSVILLE — Derek Watkins’ clutch steal with seconds remaining highlighted a game that had a heavy defensive emphasis.
Watkins, a senior guard, came up with a steal and split a pair of free throws with 1.7 remaining in regulation to seal Pottsville’s 36-34 victory over Mahanoy Area in a Schuylkill League Division I boys’ basketball game Friday at Martz Hall.
Watkins led the Crimson Tide (16-5, 10-3 in D-I) in scoring with nine points.
“It was a true team effort,” Pottsville coach Jake Wartella said. “It was senior night, and we had some seniors really step up. London (Ivy), off the bench, had some key buckets, some key rebounds. And his energy level was just great.
“Derek, we call him the x-factor. I think he gets overshadowed sometimes, but we win basketball games he plays well. And that is why he’s the x-factor. He made some great plays on both ends of the floor.”
The defense of each team was on full display throughout the contest.
Mahanoy Area’s Jace Yedsena landed a block early in the first quarter as both squads exchanged missed 3-pointers. Yedsena knocked down a 3 at 6:29 in the first quarter to put the Golden Bears (19-2, 11-2 in D-I) on the scoreboard first.
JuJu Bainbridge responded with a trio of his own for Pottsville as the tone was set early. Neither of these teams was going to let the other build momentum. London Ivy banked in a post-hook for the Tide and Tanner Zawada responded with a floater for Mahanoy Area to tie things up at 5-5.
Zawada came up with a steal, but the Bears couldn’t finish. Tahlil Flucker-White added a block for the Tide to thwart a score, but Pottsville failed to score on the other end. Michael Oblas grabbed an offensive rebound for Mahanoy Area and got the recycle to fall to put the Golden Bears ahead 7-5 at the end of the first.
Fast-forward to 5:30 in the second quarter where Ryder Bowers hit a 3 that put Pottsville in front 10-9. Bowers went 2-for-3 from the free throw line on the previous Tide possession.
The Golden Bears then committed a turnover, but Zawada stole the ball right back and found William Mayberry in the corner where he was fouled while shooting from beyond the arc. He went 3-for-3 from the stripe to put Mahanoy Area back on top 12-10.
Both teams exchanged empty possessions before Max Clews hit a 3 for Pottsville with 3:21 left before the half. Christian Alvarez collected a block for the Crimson Tide as both teams struggled to find any success on offense down the stretch. Watkins nabbed a steal and finished for two at the other end as Pottsville led 15-12 going into halftime.
I’m so proud of the effort,” Wartella said. It was a team effort. (Pottsville) dialed in for two days after a tough loss. It was a lot of soul searching, a lot of film study and just two great practices to prepare for (Mahanoy Area). (Pottsville) dialed in, and when we dial in We see what we can do.”
The third quarter was an intense quarter that saw the lead exchange sides twice.
Pottsville went on a 7-0 scoring run early that began with a 3 from Alvarez, followed by a dunk from Letrel Montone that electrified a crowded Martz Hall arena, and capped with a layup from Watkins. Yedsena collected a baseline layup to end the Tide’s run before the Golden Bears called a timeout to regroup. Pottsville led 22-16 with 4:05 left to play in the frame.
Fast forward again to the end of the quarter with 51.0 remaining where Zawada nailed the first of two triples that brought Mahanoy Area back within one. Zawada hit his second 3 with 25.4 left as the Bears trailed the Crimson Tide 25-24.
Watkins missed a jumper as time was close to expiring in the third quarter. Ivy grabbed the offensive board and got the put-back to fall as Pottsville led 27-24 heading to the fourth quarter.
The Golden Bears came within one point of the Tide again in the early stages of the fourth quarter after Mayberry found Zilker slashing for two points. After a barrage of empty possessions on each end, Yedsena gave Mahanoy Area the lead 28-27 after his circus layup connected.
Montone added two free throws, Yedsena slashed through multiple defenders again and Alvarez netted an easy two in the paint after a perfect feed from Ivy as the lead switched sides. Turnovers then plagued each squad before Bainbridge found an open Montone in the lane for two as Pottsville went ahead 33-30.
Yedsena was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer and knocked down two of the three shots from the line that again brough Mahanoy Area within one.
Each squad exchanged a timeout as the Crimson Tide led 33-32 with 45.7 left in regulation. The Golden Bears collected their fifth team foul that sent Watkins to the free throw line for Pottsville. He went 2-for-2 to push the lead to 35-32.
Following Mahanoy Area’s final timeout, Yedsena darted through the lane all the way from halfcourt for two points that again brough the Golden Bear within one point of tying the contest.
Disaster nearly struck as miscommunication led to a turnover by the Crimson Tide with 15.9 left. But just as he did with second remaining in the first half, Watkins nabbed a clutch steal intercepting a cross-court pass just beyond the arc. Watkins went on to split a pair of free throws with 1.7 left that sealed Pottsville’s 36-34 victory at home on Senior Night.
“One day at a time,” Wartella said about his message to his team. “We have Panther Valley on Tuesday. We’re going to prep for them, finish the season strong, see who we’re playing in playoffs and go from there.”
Offensively, it was a spread performance for Pottsville. Watkins led the way with nine points, Montone followed with six and Ivy, Alvarez and Bowers each had five.
For the Golden Bears, Yedsena led all scorers with 13 points and Zawada chipped in 10.
With Mahanoy Area’s loss and Minersville’s 82-34 victory over North Schuylkill Friday evening, the Golden Bears and Battlin’ Miners (16-3, 11-2 in D-I) sit tied for the top spot in Division I. Mahanoy Area hosts Blue Mountain on Tuesday, while Minersville travels to Pine Grove.
— Elias Doyle (@IamEliDoyle) February 1, 2025
