POTTSVILLE — You have to take them to make them.

Marian sure wasn’t scared to let it rip from beyond the arc in its District 11 Class 2A championship tilt on Saturday night against Tri-Valley.

The Colts’ ability to hit shots from deep helped them leave Martz Hall with gold medals around their necks, shooting their way to 11 three-pointers made, and a 59-55 win over the Bulldogs.

Throughout the first half, neither team was able to pull away. Using the three ball, Marian was able to stay mostly in control, but Tri-Valley stayed close and within striking distance.

Triples from both Justin De La Cruz and Greg Tirpak got the Colts offense going in the first quarter. Tirpak’s three at the end of the frame gave them a 14-11 advantage after one.

The Colts hit three more three-pointers in the second, as Yaniel Nunez, Bryan Ferreira and Tirpak all came through with big makes. Marian got another huge make from deep at the end of the quarter, this time from Ferreira, to carry a 27-22 lead into the break.

The Bulldogs’ inside play was strong in the first half, with big man Blake Schwartz leading the way with eight points, and their other post player Braedan Doyle adding six.

“What a night to come out and shoot the basketball like we did,” said Marian head coach Scott Murphy. “For the past few weeks, we were struggling in that department, so I guess the law of averages took over there. We were due, that was for sure, and we do have a bunch of talented shooters.

“Our guards were really giving them some issues. We have a lot of guards that are similar in quickness, and they could not keep us out of the paint on the dribble drive, so we felt we could get good looks on dump offs to the post and kick outs for three, and our guys executed.”

Marian was able to put its foot on the gas pedal in the third quarter to get its lead to 10 points early in the frame. An opening three from Nunez, along with a bucket inside from Rocco Griguoli made it 32-22. Griguoli had a big second half for the Colts, scoring 11 points.

But, the Bulldogs quickly battled back, going on a 7-0 run after a key three from Gavin Klock to get them back within three.

However, it was Marian’s unconscious shooting from beyond the arc that kept them in control throughout the third quarter. Enter freshman Tirpak, who had three more three-pointers in the third quarter to keep Tri-Valley at bay and to help keep Marian out in front by five (47-42) going into the fourth.

“We’re a three-point shooting team. That’s what we do,” said Tirpak. “Everybody that was on that floor tonight came through big and came through with clutch plays. I’m just so happy for our seniors, who were able to win a championship, and me just being a freshman, it’s just a great feeling.”

A timely three from Doyle to start the fourth quarter instantly tightened up the game to just two (47-45).

The Colts then looked like they might pull away. A couple of big finishes inside from Griguoli gave Marian some breathing room at 51-46, and a three a few plays later from Nunez made it 54-48 with 3:40 to play.

Tri-Valley then flipped momentum, and it looked like the Bulldogs were going to steal this one as they went on a quick 7-0 run to take a 55-54 lead with 2:03 remaining. A triple from Owen Miller started the run, followed by makes from both Schwartz and Trey Porter.

Yet again, Tirpak came up with yet another key make in a big-time moment as he pulled the trigger with just over a minute remaining deep from the right wing without hesitation and drained the three-point shot to put the Colts back in front 57-55.

“They let me open on that play and there was a minute left, so I said to myself, ‘Why not let it rip,’ and it went in,” he said.

A key Tri-Valley turnover with just under 50 seconds remaining gave the ball back to Marian, and it was able to hold the Bulldogs scoreless the rest of the way to claim its sixth district championship in program history.

“This is a young group. But they certainly didn’t play young tonight,” said Murphy. It’s March basketball, and it’s about getting things right at the right time. These guys are just a joy to be around, and I’m just so proud of them.”

BOX SCORE ... Tirpak led the way with 20 points, which included six three-pointers. Griguoli had a big night inside scoring 17, while Ferreira added 13. For Tri-Valley, Schwartz scored 15, and Doyle added 11.

YOUNG GUNS … This Marian team is young, but played like veterans on Saturday. The Colts start two juniors, two sophomores and a freshman.

NEXT UP … The Colts will now host Linville Hill Christian at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday in the first round of the PIAA 2A state tournament.

MARIAN

Nunez 4-2-2-13, Ju. De La Cruz 1-0-0-3, Ja. De La Cruz 1-1-4-3, Ferreira 1-0-0-3, Griguoli 7-3-4-17, Tirpak 6-2-3-20, Price 0-0-0-0, Rodino 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 20-8-13-59.

TRI-VALLEY

Schwartz 6-3-4-15, Miller 2-0-0-5, Porter 4-0-0-8, Wehry 2-0-0-4, Raulston 3-0-0-6, Doyle 3-4-5-11, Klock 2-0-0-6. TOTALS: 22-7-9-55.

Marian 14 13 20 12 - 59

Tri-Valley 11 11 20 13 - 55

Three-pointers: Marian - Tirpak 6, Nunez 3, Ju. De La Cruz 1, Ferreira 1; Tri-Valley - Klock 2, Miller 1, Doyle 1.

Records: Marian (13-11); Tri-Valley (17-8).