There were more bodies hitting the deck than a tag-team wrestling match.

Tuesday’s Schuylkill League matchup between once-beaten Tamaqua and an upstart Panther Valley squad was truly a dogfight from the start.

The host Blue Raiders looked like they were going to neatly tuck the contest into the win column, leading by 16 points in the second half.

But the Panthers had other ideas.

With guile, toughness and a lot of nerve, PV whittled the deficit to just five with 22 seconds remaining on the clock. In the end, though, Tamaqua found a way to ward off the Panthers’ late surge and post a 49-43 victory.

It may not have been pretty, but good teams find a way to win and the Raiders have shown they are a good team this season. And once again, they came through when it counted the most.

The host team received a super effort from talented 6-0 sophomore Lauren Ligenza, who drained a game-high 17 points and added 14 rebounds to end with a double-double. Ligenza had plenty of support from Kendle Miller, who added 10 points and seven boards. Fast-rising freshman Millie Black also contributed eight points and eight rebounds.

Panther Valley was led by junior Morgan Orsulak, who tallied 11 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Senior Brenna McAndrew collected 10 boards, while sophomore Lucy Kocha ended with 10 points.

PV’s big task was trying to stop Ligenza.

“We didn’t do a good job on her, then again it’s easier said than done,” said Panther head coach Rob Kovac. “She’s really a skilled player and a heck of a player … her foot work is exceptional. The (things) you notice, the foot work and the development … it’s scary to think she’s only a sophomore.”

Ligenza did most of her damage in the second half with 10 points. Miller sparked the Raiders, who weren’t hitting on all cylinders and looked blase at times, in the opening quarter. She hit a pair of three-pointers in the first period as Tamaqua held a slim 8-7 advantage.

The margin was still one at 14-13 with 3:18 left until halftime, but the Raiders closed strong by forcing a number of turnovers and going on an 11-0 spurt to grab a 12-point lead at the break.

Credit their defense, and in particular Kolbe Robb — the feisty point guard who found pickpocketing the ball an art. She helped cause four straight PV turnovers which led to the run.

Robb also contributed on offense with a triple and a breakaway basket, while Ligenza chimed in with five points.

Tamaqua seemed to carry that momentum into the second half and looked to be more in sync, going in front 36-20 with just over two minutes left in the third quarter. But the Raiders hit the skids and appeared to be gassed.

“Our energy level wasn’t there, that’s for sure,” said Tamaqua mentor Erika Davis. “I know we won, but it feels like a loss. You can’t have lackadaisical play and expect to win. (Panther Valley) did a great job late the game. They deserve a lot of credit.”

The Panthers pulled off a huge rally in the final 2:39. Kocha provided the spark with a pair of three-pointers, however PV suffered a blow when Orsulak picked up her fifth foul. Danika Blazosky scored off a terrific assist from Ajete Gjoca with 22 seconds to go to make it 48-43.

But unfortunately for Panther Valley, time was not on its side as Tamaqua held on for the win.

“I’ll tell you our kids grew up tonight, they came of age. We’re at .500, and we are going to make a run in the second half of the season,” said an optimistic Kovac. “I’m very proud the way we played.”

KILLER … Panther Valley committed 21 turnovers, a third of those in the first quarter, and somehow trailed by just a narrow 8-7 score. Tamaqua finished with 11 turnovers.

TICKET PUNCHED … The win by the Raiders qualified them for the District 11 playoffs. If PV can stay the course, it well be a tough out over the final 10 games.

SWEEP ... Tamaqua’s JV squad won the opener 30-14.

PANTHER VALLEY

Gjoca 0-2-4-2, Kocha 3-1-2-10, Vermillion 2-1-2-7, Blazosky 2-1-2-5, Breslin 2-0-0-6, Orsulak 1-9-10-11, McAndrew 1-0-0-2. TOTALS: 11-14-20-43.

TAMAQUA

Robb 3-0-2-7, Black, M. 2-4-8-8, Scott 0-0-0-0, Plasha 1-2-8-4, Ligenza 7-3-3-17, Miller 4-0-0-10, Black, L. 1-1-4-3. TOTALS: 18-10-25-49.

Panther Valley 7 6 14 16 - 43

Tamaqua 8 17 13 11 - 49

Three-pointers: Panther Valley - Kocha 3, Vermillion 2, Breslin 2; Tamaqua - Miller 2, Robb 1.

Records: Panther Valley (5-5; 1-4); Tamaqua (11-1; 4-1).