PINE GROVE - Defense can sometimes be boring – it’s not flashy and it’s not fancy.

But defense, when played with effort and intensity can be the difference between bringing home a win or a loss.

On Friday, in its District 11 4A quarterfinal matchup on the road at Pine Grove, Jim Thorpe put together a strong defensive performance to help it come away with a 52-42 win over the Cardinals.

In the smaller Pine Grove gym, the Olympians went to a 3-2 zone early on to utilize its length on the wings, making it tough for the Cardinals offense to get quality looks in the first half. Pine Grove went just 3-of-13 from beyond the arc and Thorpe forced nine first half turnovers and held Pine Grove to only 16 first half points, leading by five at intermission.

The Olympians were able to create offense with their defense, getting out in transition, led by junior Derryl Fisher.

Fisher, who is known for his defensive prowess on the football field at defensive back, came through with two steals that led to coast to coast conversions in the half, and led the team with 11 points, including nine in the first quarter.

“They’re a tough team, they’re an athletic team and I thought we needed to keep them out of the paint and keep them out on the perimeter and our guys did an unbelievable job,” said Jim Thorpe head coach Jason McElmoyle. “They were able to knock down some threes in the second half, but we were willing to take some of that. Our focus was keeping them out of the middle and out of the paint. Our kids did everything we asked them to tonight.”

The Cardinals came out firing in the third, and in doing so mounted their most serious offensive attack of the game. They hit three triples in the frame, with two coming by Shea Morgan, and they used the trey to help them close within two (29-27) with two minutes to go in the quarter.

But a Chris Condly hoop plus the harm on Thorpe’s ensuing possession stopped that momentum and kept Pine Grove at arms length as the game went into fourth with the Olympians leading by six.

Much of the first half of the fourth went scoreless until back-to-back buckets by the Olympians gave them a 10-point lead with 4:50 remaining. Pine Grove once again kept things uncomfortable, closing to within five (44-39) at the 1:25 mark, using the triple to get back in it.

But then Fisher, as he did throughout the night, swung momentum back in Thorpe’s favor with yet another steal and coast to coast lay in, and the Cardinals would never get closer.

“Our 3-2 was working really well tonight and I was kind of just waiting back and then attacking, and I was able to come away with some steals,” said Fisher. “Whenever we would get that trap, I was able to come up and steal it. This was a total team win tonight. We came together and played a great game.”

LEADERS

... Fisher scored a game-high 23 points for Thorpe and Kaiden Herron added 16. For Pine Grove, Shea Morgan had 18.

NEXT UP

... No. 5 seed Jim Thorpe will face No. 1 seed Becahi at Becahi on Monday at 7 p.m in the District 11 4A semis.

DEFENSIVE EFFORT

... It was quite the defensive effort for Thorpe, which forced 19 turnovers led by Fisher, who had six steals on the night.

JIM THORPE

Condly 1-2-3-4, Warner 0-0-0-0, Hurley 1-1-4-4, Fisher 7-7-8-23, Herron 5-6-8-16, Marykwas 2-0-0-5. TOTALS: 16-16-23-52.

PINE GROVE

Leininger 2-0-0-4, Boyer 2-0-0-6, D. Geesey 3-2-2-8, Griffiths 1-0-0-3, Morgan 6-1-2-18, K. Geesey 1-0-0-3. TOTALS: 15-3-4-42.

Jim Thorpe 10 11 14 17 - 52

Pine Grove 6 10 13 13 - 42

Three-pointers: JT - Fisher 2, Hurley 1, Marykwas 1. PG - Morgan 5, Boyer 2, Griffiths 1, K. Geesey 1.