- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,170,063
- Reaction score
- 59
POTTSVILLE — Pottsville checked another milestone off its list against North Schuylkill Monday inside a playoff like atmosphere at Martz Hall.
Crimson Tide (4-2; 4-0) senior Christian Alvarez scored his 1,000th career point just before halftime of a 54-35 Division I home win over the Spartans (4-2; 3-1).
“I had a clue I could do this and it wasn’t really on my mind, I just wanted to get wins this year,” said Alvarez. “I’m just blessed that I got it.”
*
Pottsville senior Christian Alvarez (11) scored his 1000th career point during the North Schuylkill vs. Pottsville game at Martz Hall in Pottsville, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. A brief recognition took place following his achievement. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
*
Pottsville junior Christopher Hobbs (1) swipes away the ball from North Schuylkill sophomore Logan Damiter (2) as North Schuylkill and Pottsville face off at Martz Hall in Pottsville, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
*
North Schuylkill senior Julian Nelson (22) tries to shoot the ball as North Schuylkill and Pottsville face off at Martz Hall in Pottsville, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
*
Pottsville junior Colin McGinley (2) dribbles the ball as North Schuylkill sophomore Cam Kacilowicz (11) guards as North Schuylkill and Pottsville face off at Martz Hall in Pottsville, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
Show Caption
1 of 4
Pottsville senior Christian Alvarez (11) scored his 1000th career point during the North Schuylkill vs. Pottsville game at Martz Hall in Pottsville, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. A brief recognition took place following his achievement. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
Expand
SEE FULL PHOTO GALLERY: Pottsville boys basketball beats North Schuylkill at home
Alvarez’s layup gave the Crimson Tide a 21-6 lead with a minute left in the first half of a rocky front court battle. Pottsville forced 13 turnovers, most of them in the first half, while North Schuylkill forced 11 turnovers.
“The early games helped us prepare a little and I thought defensively we were really aggressive early and forced some turnovers,” said Pottsville head coach Tyler Heffner. “It helps when he (Alvarez) can get in the flow early in games and go to work.”
Alvarez closed out his record-breaking performance with a team-high 18 points while Chris Hobbs and Davey Kunstek each scored eight points.
Kunstek banked in a layup midway through the first quarter for the 5-2 lead. Alvarez then scooped up a steal and went the entire floor for the 9-3 lead at the end of the first.
“It was good to get out to a hot start and we ended up getting the win,” said Alvarez. “I just want to be a leader as best as I can for the team.”
Chris Hobbs hit a three to put the Crimson Tide ahead 12-3 a minute into the second quarter before Alvarez went in for a layup and hit a three to give Pottsville a 19-6 lead.
Pottsville’s defense was strong enough to slow down North Schuylkill to just nine points in the first half, five of them on free throws.
“We believe in our system and what we do and taking guys out of things the kids commit to it,” said Heffner. “They’re a really determined group and came out and executed tonight.”
Alvarez rolled in his career 1,000th point for the 21-6 lead with a minute left in the first half before Pottsville jumped ahead for a 23-9 halftime lead.
“I’ve coached Christian (Alvarez) for years and he’s an incredibly hard working kid and he’s the perfect kid to coach,” said Heffner. “I couldn’t be happier for him and he’s a leader for us.”
Kunstek turned up for a turnover and full court layup for the 29-9 lead a few minutes into the second half. Alvarez then picked off a pass and went the whole way for the dunk and 35-16 lead.
Alvarez closed out the third quarter with nine points for the 40-20 lead.
“I just want to thank all the players and coaches I’ve been with throughout my career,” said Alvarez. “I love playing at Martz Hall and now we have more confidence in league play.”
The Spartans picked up the intensity in the second half and finished with 35 points as Jude Maziekas hit a pair of three’s and Raylin Cabral added seven points in the fourth.
Xavier McNally has been a go-to scorer for the Spartans and finished with eight points and a blocked shot defensively.
“He (McNally) makes it tough inside and we knew we couldn’t shy away from getting it in there,” said Heffner. “It was a focus to get the ball inside and make sure we weren’t abandoning that part of the game.”
Andrew Allen and Brandon Viars sparked a late Pottsville surge as each poured in four points in the fourth quarter for the 54-35 win.
Xavier McNally led North Schuylkill’s offense with eight points, Cabral added seven points and Maziekas scored six points.
North Schuylkill 35 — Cairo 0 0-0 0, Damiter 0 2-4 2, Maziekas 2 0-2 6, Wall 0 0-0 0, Mengel 2 1-2 5, Kacilowicz 1 2-2 4, Kronkowski 0 0-0 0, Bani 0 0-0 0, Nelson 0 0-0 0, McNally 3 2-4 8, Cabral 3 0-2 7, Gallagher 0 1-2 1, Osenbach 0 0-0 0, Hannan 1 0-0 2. 12 8-18 35.
Pottsville 54 — Killian 0 0-0 0, Hobbs 3 1-2 8, McGinley 1 0-0 2, Allen 2 0-0 4, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Leskin 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 8 1-1 18, Bower 0 0-0 0, Eroh 0 0-0 0, Kunstek 4 0-0 8, Clews 2 0-0 4, Kimber 2 0-0 4, Viars 1 2-2 4, Oswald 1 0-0 2, Ibaker 0 0-0 0.
Continue reading...
Crimson Tide (4-2; 4-0) senior Christian Alvarez scored his 1,000th career point just before halftime of a 54-35 Division I home win over the Spartans (4-2; 3-1).
“I had a clue I could do this and it wasn’t really on my mind, I just wanted to get wins this year,” said Alvarez. “I’m just blessed that I got it.”
*
Pottsville senior Christian Alvarez (11) scored his 1000th career point during the North Schuylkill vs. Pottsville game at Martz Hall in Pottsville, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. A brief recognition took place following his achievement. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
*
Pottsville junior Christopher Hobbs (1) swipes away the ball from North Schuylkill sophomore Logan Damiter (2) as North Schuylkill and Pottsville face off at Martz Hall in Pottsville, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
*
North Schuylkill senior Julian Nelson (22) tries to shoot the ball as North Schuylkill and Pottsville face off at Martz Hall in Pottsville, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
*
Pottsville junior Colin McGinley (2) dribbles the ball as North Schuylkill sophomore Cam Kacilowicz (11) guards as North Schuylkill and Pottsville face off at Martz Hall in Pottsville, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
Show Caption
1 of 4
Pottsville senior Christian Alvarez (11) scored his 1000th career point during the North Schuylkill vs. Pottsville game at Martz Hall in Pottsville, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. A brief recognition took place following his achievement. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
Expand
SEE FULL PHOTO GALLERY: Pottsville boys basketball beats North Schuylkill at home
Alvarez’s layup gave the Crimson Tide a 21-6 lead with a minute left in the first half of a rocky front court battle. Pottsville forced 13 turnovers, most of them in the first half, while North Schuylkill forced 11 turnovers.
“The early games helped us prepare a little and I thought defensively we were really aggressive early and forced some turnovers,” said Pottsville head coach Tyler Heffner. “It helps when he (Alvarez) can get in the flow early in games and go to work.”
Alvarez closed out his record-breaking performance with a team-high 18 points while Chris Hobbs and Davey Kunstek each scored eight points.
Kunstek banked in a layup midway through the first quarter for the 5-2 lead. Alvarez then scooped up a steal and went the entire floor for the 9-3 lead at the end of the first.
“It was good to get out to a hot start and we ended up getting the win,” said Alvarez. “I just want to be a leader as best as I can for the team.”
Chris Hobbs hit a three to put the Crimson Tide ahead 12-3 a minute into the second quarter before Alvarez went in for a layup and hit a three to give Pottsville a 19-6 lead.
Pottsville’s defense was strong enough to slow down North Schuylkill to just nine points in the first half, five of them on free throws.
“We believe in our system and what we do and taking guys out of things the kids commit to it,” said Heffner. “They’re a really determined group and came out and executed tonight.”
Alvarez rolled in his career 1,000th point for the 21-6 lead with a minute left in the first half before Pottsville jumped ahead for a 23-9 halftime lead.
“I’ve coached Christian (Alvarez) for years and he’s an incredibly hard working kid and he’s the perfect kid to coach,” said Heffner. “I couldn’t be happier for him and he’s a leader for us.”
Kunstek turned up for a turnover and full court layup for the 29-9 lead a few minutes into the second half. Alvarez then picked off a pass and went the whole way for the dunk and 35-16 lead.
Alvarez closed out the third quarter with nine points for the 40-20 lead.
“I just want to thank all the players and coaches I’ve been with throughout my career,” said Alvarez. “I love playing at Martz Hall and now we have more confidence in league play.”
The Spartans picked up the intensity in the second half and finished with 35 points as Jude Maziekas hit a pair of three’s and Raylin Cabral added seven points in the fourth.
Xavier McNally has been a go-to scorer for the Spartans and finished with eight points and a blocked shot defensively.
“He (McNally) makes it tough inside and we knew we couldn’t shy away from getting it in there,” said Heffner. “It was a focus to get the ball inside and make sure we weren’t abandoning that part of the game.”
Andrew Allen and Brandon Viars sparked a late Pottsville surge as each poured in four points in the fourth quarter for the 54-35 win.
Xavier McNally led North Schuylkill’s offense with eight points, Cabral added seven points and Maziekas scored six points.
North Schuylkill 35 — Cairo 0 0-0 0, Damiter 0 2-4 2, Maziekas 2 0-2 6, Wall 0 0-0 0, Mengel 2 1-2 5, Kacilowicz 1 2-2 4, Kronkowski 0 0-0 0, Bani 0 0-0 0, Nelson 0 0-0 0, McNally 3 2-4 8, Cabral 3 0-2 7, Gallagher 0 1-2 1, Osenbach 0 0-0 0, Hannan 1 0-0 2. 12 8-18 35.
Pottsville 54 — Killian 0 0-0 0, Hobbs 3 1-2 8, McGinley 1 0-0 2, Allen 2 0-0 4, Herndon 0 0-0 0, Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Leskin 0 0-0 0, Alvarez 8 1-1 18, Bower 0 0-0 0, Eroh 0 0-0 0, Kunstek 4 0-0 8, Clews 2 0-0 4, Kimber 2 0-0 4, Viars 1 2-2 4, Oswald 1 0-0 2, Ibaker 0 0-0 0.
Continue reading...
