Punch and counterpunch.

That was the theme of Friday night’s opening night basketball contest between Schuylkill League Division 1 rivals Lehighton and Jim Thorpe. The Indians and Olympians dished out their best shots in this one, but in the end it was Lehighton that came away with an important 39-35 early season victory.

From the onset, the Indians showed that they brought a lunch pale mentality into the game, outworking Thorpe on the offensive glass in the first quarter to take a six-point lead. Richard Yturrino, who had multiple impressive performances against the Olympians last season, got the Indians’ offense started. Yturrino used his prowess on the offensive boards to score nine of this team’s 12 points in the frame.

“Yturrino, he’s tough. He finishes well and once again tonight against us he made some tough shots,” said Jim Thorpe head coach Jason McElmoyle. “He has a motor that just doesn’t stop. He gets loose balls, he gets rebounds, especially that extra rebound. There’s no doubt he’s hurt us.”

Lehighton got in rhythm early in the second quarter, extending its lead to 19-9 at the 6:17 mark after yet another Yturrino bucket.

But as they did throughout the game, the Olympians battled back, closing to within four just a few minutes later. A strong finish by the Tribe, however, kept Thorpe at arms length heading into intermission (23-15).

Lehighton’s defensive effort and its energetic effort on the glass was the difference in the first half.

“Early on in our 1-3-1 we were really aggressive defensively. We were able to get some tipped balls and steals and I think that made them uncomfortable offensively,” said Lehighton head coach Trevor Miller. “You could see as the game went on, we started to lose our legs, so we switched to a 3-2 to try and settle in a little bit.

“But overall I think we did a good job. We were able to stop some of their key guys from hurting us and that was huge.”

The Tribe once again went on the offensive in the third, extending their lead to 28-19 midway through the quarter off a Zach Hunsicker triple. But Thorpe once again counterpunched to close to within three after a strong showing from big man David Richards. Richards was able to corral back-to-back offensive boards and finish to shift momentum to the Olympians.

Still, Lehighton was able to fight off the Thorpe flurry and went into the final frame with a six-point advantage. A Tyler Rehrig three-pointer late in the quarter halted the Olympians’ run.

In the fourth quarter, Jim Thorpe’s Chris Condly did his best to will the Olympians to the win, scoring eight of his team-high 16 points in the period. Late in the quarter, a Condly deuce made it a two-point game, but that’s as close as Thorpe would get.

With under a minute remaining, the Olympians had their best chance to tie it, but two lay-up opportunities didn’t fall and Lehighton eventually sealed the win.

“In these types of games, you’re going to have the highs and lows. That’s how Lehighton and Jim Thorpe games are,” said Miller. “I’m proud of the way our guys responded and bounced back when we got punched. We punched them early, they punched us late, but we were able to come away with the win.”

THE DISTANCE ... Lehighton never trailed. Two Yturrino free throws gave the Indians a 2-0 lead to start the game and they never surrendered it.

LEADERS … Yturrino led the way for the Indians with 17 points and Hunsicker chipped in with 12. Condly scored 16 for Thorpe and Richards added eight and had a strong showing on the boards.

REBOUND HOUND ... Yturrino finished the night with 12 rebounds, coming through with a double-double.

LEHIGHTON

Strauss 0-0-1-0, Hoffman 0-0-0-0, Lorenz 2-0-2-2, Yturrino 5-7-9-17, Hunsicker 4-2-3-12, Gayn 1-0-2-2, Rehrig 2-0-0-6. Total: 13-9-17-39.

JIM THORPE

Gilliar 1-0-0-3, Condly 8-0-2-16, McHugh 0-1-2-1, Richards 4-0-0-8, Hurley 0-0-0-0, Fisher 0-0-0-0, Ivey 0-0-0-0, Herron 2-0-0-4. Total: 16-2-6-35.

Lehighton 12 11 10 6 - 39

Jim Thorpe 6 9 12 8 - 35

Three pointers: Lehighton - Hunsicker 2, Rehrig 2; Jim Thorpe - Gilliar 1.