POTTSVILLE – Ugh!

That’s the way the Lehighton girls felt as they gamely tried to muster enough offensive answers in a game against Schuylkill League foe North Schuylkill on Saturday afternoon.

The third meeting between the teams this season was a battle for survival in the District 11 Class 4A consolation game at Martz Hall. The winner would stay alive in the PIAA’s version of March Madness, while the loser would see it’s season come to an end.

The Spartans had been decidedly better in the two previous games this season, and that didn’t change this time. North Schuylkill stomped its way past the Indians 62-35 to grab the third and final state berth out of the district.

The Indians were trying to build off an upset victory over No. 2 seed Northwestern in the quarterfinals, and a strong defensive performance in a loss to favored Allentown Central Catholic in the semifinal round,

Lehighton’s performance and style of play in its prior two District 11 playoff games wasn’t lost on North Schuylkill coach Rich Wetzel, who has guided the program to lofty heights during his eight-year tenure.

“It’s all about pace, pace, pace,” Wetzel said emphatically. “Central Catholic likes to play that (slower) pace, and so does Lehighton. We want to get out in transition, make the other team run with us.

“We are a quick team. We like to go up and down the court. That’s the way we like to play, and that’s what we were able to do today.”

North Schuylkill’s start to the game was like a missile launch, and it put Lehighton in chase mode all afternoon.

The Spartans ripped off the game’s first 14 points, before Charli McHugh finally put the Indians on the board with 2:43 remaining in the period. McHugh’s bucket produced the only Indian points in the quarter.

Meanwhile, behind Kamryn Mengel’s seven points, North Schuylkill exploded for 21 points.

“We were hoping to slow them down – but they were lights out,” said Lehighton coach Joe Berezwick.

Of course, there’s always a sliver of light in darkness.

The Indians caught their collective breaths in the first four minutes of the second period, getting a boost from frosh Emma Repsher, who scored four points in a brief flurry at the onset, and turned to senior Aaliyah Fisher, who would go out with a huge bang scoring 18 points in the game - all on triples.

“I was very happy for Aaliyah,” Berezwick said. “Our kids battled hard; the score is not indicative how we battled. I’m proud that we reached this point; we got a chance to play a few postseason games. It is new territory for us.”

Indeed, the Indians found a way to battle, and did outscore the Spartans 15-13 in the second quarter.

However, the North Schuylkill was back full-bore to open the second half. The Spartans’ lead was 40-19 midway through the third quarter, before a 12-0 run put the game into the mercy rule.

FINAL BOWS … Three seniors made their final appearance in a Lehighton uniform; Fisher, Hailey Williams and Gracie Williams.

THE TALE OF THE TAPE … North Schuylkill improves to 22-5, with four of those losses sustained against powerhouse Jim Thorpe. The Indians finished the season with a 12-13 record,

NEXT UP … The Spartans open state tournament play on Wednesday at District 2 champ Riverside.

LEHIGHTON

Fisher 6-0-0-18, McHugh 3-0-0-6, Repsher 2-0-0-4, Bartol 1-0-0-3, Miller 1-0-3-2, Bowman 1-0-0-2, Haley 0-0-0, Williams 0-0-0-0, Wehr 0-0-0-0, Wojton 0-0-0-0, Hauser 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 7-3-7-35.

NORTH SCHUYLKILL

Wetzel 7-3-4-18, Mengel 6-2-5-15, Burke 3-1-2-9, Koutch 2-2-2-6, Gawrylik 2-2-2-6, Hines 2-0-0-6, Felty 1-0-0-2, Conti 0-0-0-0, Hall 0-0-0-0, Lucas 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 23-10-15-62.

Lehighton 2 15 4 14 - 35

North Schuylkill 21 13 20 8 - 62

Three-pointers: Lehighton - Fisher 6, Barthol 1; North Schuylkill - Burke 2, Hines 2, Mengle 1, Wetzel 1.