POTTSVILLE — The final buzzer couldn’t have come fast enough for Pottsville Friday evening in Martz Hall.

Every time the Crimson Tide seemed to have lassoed Tamaqua, the Blue Raiders kept getting up off the floor.

Pottsville finally shrugged off Tamaqua in the final 38 seconds to stash away a very important 55-52 Schuylkill League decision.

The win keeps the Tide in the hunt for a postseason berth in the league.

The Pottsville victory put a damper on a terrific scoring night from Noah Mateyak — the Raiders’ standout shooter. The senior southpaw guard found his range often and collected a career and game-high 25 points. His second quarter explosion was a 10-point output.

Tide head coach Jake Wartella knew this contest was going to go the distance.

“Tamaqua always plays us tough,” Wartella said.

For the Raiders, their mentor Jim Barron watched his team battle to the bitter end.

“We did a great job at times,” Barron said. “What can you say, we just left it go to the end, and they made some very key baskets and we missed some opportunities. But the way we played, it was a great effort.”

With a trio of double-digit scorers, the Tide’s balance was evident. There was Christian Alveraz dumping in 16 points, Latrel Montone posting 13 and triple-killer Ryder Bowers adding a dozen.

“Their kids made some great shots, and we just failed to answer,” Barron said. “Bowers really hurt us at times… he had a great game for them.”

Barron knew the home stretch was key — similar to the first meeting in Tamaqua on Dec. 9 — a 64-59 defeat.

Pottsville barely forged in front after a quarter, but then expanded the margin to 28-21 by halftime lead. The scoring column was full of balance — Alvarez drained a trey and a deuce, Bowers flung home a triple, Max Clews chimed in with a trey and Montone added a bucket.

All of that seemed to give Pottsville momentum.

But the Raiders eventually found some rhythm. They came charging hard to ignite a 9-5 run. Cooper Ansbach was under wraps in the first half — being held scoreless — but came storming into the fray with seven points, while unsung Brady McCabe became active as well.

“That third quarter gave us a big lift,” Barron said. “What can I tell you about Noah (Mateyak), the kid is such a huge part of our team and he steps up in key situations.”

Mateyak’s 10-point explosion in the second kept the visitors within striking distance.

Wartella could see it coming from his sideline.

“We weren’t pretty at times, and they made it tough on us,” he said.

Pretty only counts in beauty pageants. Pottsville ran off the first five points of the fourth period, but then suddenly there was a twist of fate.

Tamaqua stormed back, getting to within 46-45. It was the senior duo — Mateyak and Ansbach — that sparked the Raiders.

However, Pottsville cooly stayed the course, turning to Alvarez and Montone over the final seconds to stave off any hopes Tamaqua had of catching the Crimson Tide.

“It was a dogfight, it always is with Tamaqua,” Wartella said. “We didn’t play our best game. We looked out of sorts. We had some bad shots, had some bad turnovers, things kind of snowballed. But we found a way to win.

“An ugly win is better than a bad loss.”

SO CLOSE … It seems the Raiders just can’t get over the hump in close games against the upper echelon teams in Division 1.

DIFFERENCE MAKERS … Pottsville tossed in seven triples for 21 of its points. Tamaqua hit six shots from distance — four by Mateyak.

MATEYAK BONKERS … Noah isn’t tall, but has court savvy. He knows when to take a shot, knows when to drive and has a keen eye for making the outside shot.

TAMAQUA

Mateyak 7-7-7-25, Ansbach 4-3-4-12, Kane 4-2-6-10, Reyes 1-0-0-3, McCabe 1-0-0-2, Vecolitis 0-0-0-0, Davis 0-0-0-0, Schickram 0-0-0-0, Tamagini 0-0-0-0, Frohnheiser 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 17-12-17-52.

POTTSVILLE

Alveraz 5-3-4-16, Montone 5-3-6-13, Bowers 4-0-0-12, Ivy 2-2-2-6, Watkins 2-1-2-5, Clews 1-0-0-3, Bainbridge 0-0-0-0, McGinley 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 19-9-14-55.

Tamaqua 11 10 14 17 - 52

Pottsville 12 15 12 16 - 55

Three-pointers: Tamaqua - Mateyak 4, Ansbach 1, Reyes 1; Pottsville - Bowers 4, Alvarez 3.

Records: Tamaqua (5-11; 2-7); Pottsville (9-5; 6-2).