COAL TOWNSHIP — What was supposed to be a backyard donnybrook turned into an all-out assault.

Marian looked like a finely-tuned machine, roaring past one of its chief rivals — Lourdes Regional — by a 76-46 score Tuesday evening in a Schuylkill League Division 2 contest.

The matchup turned into a no contest as the Red Raiders (2-2, 4-2) were tossing up white flags before the first 16 minutes had passed.

On the other side, the Fillies looked in mid-season form, turning up the heat, and causing Lourdes to run for cover.

To say Marian was lights out would be a bit of an understatement. The Fillies fired in three-pointers like easy layups, and four players ended up reaching double-digit scoring.

Addy Fritz knocked down a game-high 18 points, and sizzled with a bombastic performance in the third and fourth quarters with five triples.

Olivia Serfass, who ended with 17 points, was stellar early and kick-started the Marian offense. Right on her heels was the girl that makes everything run — Deanna Pugh, who also tallied 17 points. Rounding out the double-digit scorers was freshman Addy Marek, who contributed 11 points.

“We love the up-tempo game,” Serfass said. “When we get into that (rhythm) we are all on the same page. By starting the game with intensity, we find the openings on their (zone) defense.”

Marian enjoys that hurry-up attack.

Its lone senior — Carley Hasara — said it’s something the team thrives on when things are running smoothly.

“We play as a team very well,” Hasara said. “I feel with Deanna, she helps make things (open), and you get to see the court very well.”

Pugh is the key to the engine. The sophomore finds ways to disrupt the opposing team. Her quickness and having a knack to puncture the opposition with steals can be a pain for opponents. She helped to force Lourdes into 26 turnovers.

Marian zipped out of the gate early, taking a 13-0 lead.

Serfass had a major impact during the first half, as she chalked up 13 points in the first two quarters. Marek buried a triple, while Pugh did a pickpocket and raced the length of the court for a deuce and then stole another pass.

That was not fortunate for Lourdes, as it never recovered after that opening burst. Though it pulled within 15-10, the energy was all around the Fillies. They exploded to a 30-20 lead with 1:45 to go in the first half with Pugh and Serfass at the head of that rally.

Coming into the contest, Marian was concerned with the Raiders’ size — mainly 6-2 Hannah Lokitis and 5-10 Vivian Reiprish. Lokitis finished with 19 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, while teammate Anna Kerr added 10 points and six boards.

“We knew their size was going to be something we had to contain,” Marian head coach Damian Fritz said.

Fritz loved the up-tempo game that got Lourdes to play Marian’s style.

“What a great pace in that first half, both teams up and down. We wanted that type of tempo; that’s something that we like to do, and when we get that going we are a tough basketball team.”

Not too many teams will contend with that style for sure.

Marian breezed through the Raiders defense, and often turned to the hot shooting of Fritz.

“I was feeling it,” said the rangy junior. “I didn’t have a good start (shooting), but my concern in the first half was to play defense. But when things started to flow in that (second half) I could feel it … my shots were falling.”

That showing impressed Lourdes mentor Mike Klembara.

“They’re a very good team, they’ve got some size, they shoot very well and play defense,” said the long-time Raiders coach who is a fixture at the Shamokin-based school.

“I tried to find a positive for our girls … I told them there were only two teams that scored as many points as we did (against them); us and Lake Lehman, which beat them,” Klembara said.

QUOTABLE … “They normally don’t play that way, and they got caught up in our game. I thought Serfass in the first half, with Fritz and Marek starting off slow, carried us,” said Coach Fritz on the all-around play of Serfass.

SHE’S THE KEY … No question, Pugh makes the engine purr. She’s dynamic, relentless, and never stops.

WOW! ... Fillies shot 31-of-59 from the floor. The plus factor for Lourdes; it had two more team rebounds, 33-31.

MARIAN

Fritz 6-0-0-18, Serfass 7-2-2-17, 8-0-0-17, Marek 5-0-0-11, Hasara 3-0-1-7, Thomas 1-2-2-4, S. Serfass 1-0-0-2, Carone 0-0-0-0, Hannis-Miskar 0-0-0-0, Gelatko 0-0-0-0, Osenbach 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 31-2-3-76.

LOURDES

Lokitis 6-7-10-19, Onaleigh 5-0-0-8, Keer 4-2-3-10, Sandri 2-0-0-4, Schu 1-0-0-3, Reprish 1-0-0-2. TOTALS: 19-9-13-46.

Marian 15 17 18 26 - 76

Lourdes 10 13 10 13 - 46

Three-pointers: Marian - Fritz 6, Marek 1, Serfass 1, Hasara 1; Lourdes - Onaleigh 2, Schu 1.

Records: Marian (6-1; 3-0); Lourdes (4-2; 2-2).