For the first quarter on Wednesday, Jim Thorpe showed that it certainly has the ability to stick with the top team in the Schuylkill League.

The Olympians (8-6) trailed by just a bucket to league juggernaut Pottsville after the first eight minutes, but the Tide's defense the rest of the way proved to be too strong.Pottsville held the Olympians to just 20 points the rest of the game enroute to a 59-31 Schuylkill League victory.The Olympians 1-3-1 defense gave the Tide some trouble in the first quarter. Pottsville's shot quality wasn't great in the first frame and the Olympians did a good job of limiting the Tide to one-shot-and-done offensive sets.However, the ability to shoot the ball from the outside can bail out a basketball team against a zone defense. Enter Pottsville guard Jordan Abdo.Abdo was able to drain two deep three-pointers in the second quarter with the most important one coming at the 1:28 mark in the second. Abdo's third three of the half gave Pottsville a 10-point lead at that point and momentum heading into intermission."Their defense certainly gave us some problems in the first quarter. We had to make some adjustments and also Jordan hitting some big shots for us opened things up," said Pottsville head coach Dave Mullaney. "I think defensively we played really consistent all night, even in the first quarter. Our guys always do a good job of working hard on the defensive side of the floor."Defense was the key for Pottsville (13-0) as it stifled the Olympians the rest of the way. Jim Thorpe was able to score just four points in the second quarter, which set the tone for the rest of the game.The Tide was able to put pressure on Thorpe's guards, who weren't able to get the ball inside to talented big man Rayan Green."Pottsville is such a solid team defensively and they're undefeated for a reason. They really made it hard for our guards to get the ball inside tonight and we have to do a better job of handling that type of pressure," said Jim Thorpe head coach Jason McElmoyle. "They're also great on help side defense, so you really have to be on your 'A-game' and we just kind of let them push us around on that side of the floor tonight."Jim Thorpe made a mini run at the start of the third quarter, getting within 10 points with 4:16 remaining. But a quick Pottsville 6-0 run extended the Tide's lead and the rest was history.STRONG SECOND HALF... The Tide dominated much of the second half, outscoring the Olympians 31-16, which helped them come away with the eventual 28-point victory.MASTERFUL MELOCHICK... The Tide's Jordan Melochick was the difference on the offensive side of the floor against JT. He played the high post spot against the Olympians' 1-3-1 and dominated every time he touched the ball. The senior scored 17 points on the night, going 7-for-8 from the foul line. Jordan Abdo also finished with 17 points.CHARITY STRIPE... The Tide's stubborn man-to-man defense didn't give the Olympians many opportunities to get to the foul line. JT shot just six foul shots, while the Tide got to the line 17 times.POTTSVILLEJu. Abdo 1-0-0-2, Gerchak 3-1-2-8, Wood 0-0-0-0, Thomas 0-0-0-0, Melochick 5-7-8-17, Witman 0-0-0-0, Pellish 0-0-0-0, Jo. Abdo 6-2-3-17, Renninger 4-2-4-10, Schenk 2-0-0-5, Opake 0-0-0-0. Totals: 21-12-17-59.JIM THORPECarroll 0-1-2-1, Elmore 2-2-2-6, Micciche 3-2-2-9, Jefferson 0-0-0-0, Green 4-0-0-8, Lauer 1-0-0-2, Twardzick 0-0-0-0, Joyce 0-0-0-0, McElmoyle 1-0-0-3, Rosahac 1-0-0-2. Totals: 12-5-6-31.Pottsville 13 14 15 17 - 59Jim Thorpe 11 4 9 7 - 31Three-pointers: P - Abdo 3, Gerchak 1, Schenk 1; JT - Micciche 1, McElmoyle 1.