Boys’ Basketball: Montone, Alvarez lead Pottsville past Blue Mountain

Pottsville and Blue Mountain coaches and captains meet before the game with the officials (Photo by Eli Doyle).

POTTSVILLE — As we creep closer to the end of the regular season, Pottsville continues to build each game.

Letrel Montone scored a team-high 11 points and Christian Alvarez chipped in 10 as Pottsville defeated Blue Mountain 44-36 in a Schuylkill League Division I contest Tuesday at Blue Mountain High School.

“We’re taking it one day at a time,” Crimson Tide coach Jake Wartella said. “We were focused on this game. We knew how important it was for both teams. I’m just proud of our guys for showing up in a tough environment and winning a big game.”

Pottsville (9-5, 6-2 D-I) struggled offensively early in the first quarter, shooting 0-for-4 from the 3-point line and 3-for-8 from the field. Blue Mountain (7-7, 4-4) led 9-8 after the frame as Aidan Grace collected five points and Tyeirre Meade added four.

The second quarter contained the spark the Crimson Tide needed. The Eagles led 18-14 before Ryder Bowers hit a 3 to bring Pottsville within one. After a barrage of empty possessions on each side, Bowers hit another 3 in the corner off an assist from Montone to push the Tide ahead 20-18. Montone added a layup at the buzzer to increase Pottsville’s lead to 22-18 at the half.

“We got guys we can trust,” Wartella said. “Ryder played great, Christian played great, Letrel played great, it was an overall team effort. I thought London (Ivy) rebounded well and gave a great effort for us. It was just a great team effort. We have guys stepping up at all times, which is a great part of our team. Every game it’s somebody different.”

Alvarez added four of his 10 points and added an offensive rebound to begin the third quarter and Ivy added a bucket inside for the Tide. With Pottsville beginning to pull away, Blue Mountain shifted to a 2-3 zone defense and forced the Crimson Tide to put up some tough shots.

Offensively for the Eagles, it was still tough sledding. Pottsville collected five team fouls midway through the third frame and Blue Mountain had a chance to rack up some bonus free throws. Chase Baldwin went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the quarter and the Eagles collectively shot 6-for-9 from the stripe in the period.

Pottsville led 30-26 heading into the fourth quarter, but if you know anything about the history of Crimson Tide-Eagles matchups, it is never an easy finish.

Ivy and Derek Watkins each added two points for Pottsville and the Eagles reverted back to man defense as the final quarter began. Grace answered for Blue Mountain with a successful and-1 play to keep the game close. After an empty Tide possession, Meade knocked down a pull-up jumper from the free-throw line to bring the Eagles within three with the Crimson Tide leading 34-31 early in the fourth.

Pottsville cranked up the intensity as Montone and Alvarez seamlessly pulled off a give-and-go with Alvarez scoring, and then, following an empty Eagles’ possession, Montone found Watkins on a well-placed lob perfectly beside the rim that Watkins finished in midair for an easy two points.

Blue Mountain came up empty on its next offensive possession and forced the Eagles into a fouling situation as Pottsville led 42-35 with time dwindling. The Tide shot 2-for-6 from the line in the final moments of the fourth quarter and sealed the victory.

For Blue Mountain, Grace finished with a game-high 12 points and Meade totaled 11.

“For the rest of the year, we’re taking things one game at a time,” Wartella said. “Obviously, we’re coming down the home stretch. I think winning some of these games, this one, the Panther Valley one, could really set us forward going forward.”

POTTSVILLE (44) — Alvarez 4 2-4 10, Bowers 3 1-2 9, Montone 4 3-4 11, Watkins 4 0-2 8, Ivy 2 0-1 4, Bainbridge 1 0-0 2, McGinley 0 0-0 0, Clews 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 6-13 44.

BLUE MOUNTAIN (36) — Meade 4 2-2 11, Guers 1 0-0 2, Grace 5 1-1 12, Kirby 0 2-4 2, Baldwin 2 2-2 6, Gaddy 0 0-0 0, Brayford 1 1-4 3. Totals 13 8-13 36.

Potts (9-5, 6-2)   8 … 14 … 8 … 14 — 44

BM (7-7, 4-4)  9 … 9 … 8 … 10 — 36

3-point FGs: Bowers 2, Meade, Grace