PINE GROVE — The sun is rising and setting for Pine Grove as it once did.

A former perennial threat in the Schuylkill League, the Cardinals may have had their biggest league win in several years on Thursday when they knocked off visiting Tamaqua in a fierce battle, 42-40.

First-year Pine Grove Allison Rizzo didn’t think the victory was a surprise.

Rizzo said it all came down to was her team buying into the approach she wants — and the contest against the Blue Raiders showed that, for sure.

“No, I am not surprised that we won,” said Rizzo. “We are getting better each and every game. (Tamaqua) is a very good team, and I thought our kids just played their (butts) off.”

The Cardinals started strong, and each and every trip down the floor was a positive one. They led the whole game, except for once.

The only time that happened was early in the fourth quarter, when Kendell Miller hit a three-pointer to give the Raiders a 38-37 advantage. Seconds later, Lauren Ligenza added another field goal and with 6:02 remaining, Tamaqua seemingly had all the momentum.

Pine Grove didn’t cave, though. Feisty Callee Leffler knocked down a triple with 3:42 to play, and then put her team on top for keeps, 42-40.

“Our team is really coming around, they’ve shown a lot of energy and a lot of enthusiasm,” Rizzo said. “These girls are starting to believe in themselves, believe in the system.”

That was at the forefront throughout this battle.

The Cardinals got a boost in Confidence 101 thanks to a strong end to the first quarter. Their inside tandem of Hollyn Sampson and Ayla Schneck-Haines helped build a 12-6 lead after eight minutes of play.

Tamaqua found some balance in the second frame to get within 18-17, but Sampson dropped in a pair of baskets to send Pine Grove to halftime with a 24-18 lead.

The Cardinals tried to deliver a knockout punch in the third, outscoring the Raiders 13-10 to open up a nine-point bulge. Tamaqua, however, closed the quarter with a rush — thanks to Millie Black, Veronica Scott and Kolbe Robb — that sliced the score to 37-35.

“I felt that we were playing with a lot of energy late in the game, and even though they got that lead, we found a way to respond,” Rizzo said.

Indeed, Pine Grove had an answer.

“Right now, we’re not doing what we have to do in order to be a good team,” Raider head coach Erica Davis said. “We’re better than we’ve shown (lately). Pine Grove has really started to come on, and they played with a purpose. That’s something we are not doing.”

SHOOTING BLANKS ... Tamaqua went 16-of-43 from the floor and had a 31-24 rebounding edge. Pine Grove finished 18-of-40.

LEADERS ... Schneck-Haines paced the winners with 11 points, while Leffler added eight. The Raiders were paced by Ligenza’s game-high 12 points. Robb chipped in with eight.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN … Tamaqua visits Minersville Monday, as the league hits the final two weeks of the season.

TAMAQUA

Robb 2-4-6-8, M. Black 3-0-0-6, Scott 3-0-0-6, Plasha 1-0-0-2, Ligenza 5-2-4-12, Miller 2-0-0-5, L. Black 0-1-2-1. TOTALS: 16-7-12-40.

PINE GROVE

Seltzer 2-1-2-5, Leffler 3-0-4-8, Umbenhauer 0-1-2-1, Zimmerman 1-0-2-2, Leininger 4-1-1-9, Schneck-Haines 5-0-0-11, Fidler 0-0-0-0, Sampson 3-0-0-6. TOTALS: 18-3-11-42.

Tamaqua 6 12 17 5 - 40

Pine Grove 12 12 13 5 - 42

Three-pointers: Tamaqua - Miller 1; Pine Grove - Leffler 2, Schneck-Haines 1.

Records: Tamaqua (15-4; 7-4); Pine Grove (11-7; 5-5).