POTTSVILLE — North Schuylkill coach Richard Wetzel knew if his team could slow down their playoff opponent to just 40 points and run the floor effectively they’d half a good shot at defeating Tamaqua on Saturday.
“If we could put ourselves in a position to score enough and defensively hold them to just 40 points we could score enough to get away and get the win,” North Schuylkill coach Richard Wetzel said.
The Spartans (16-7, 11-3) did just that while teaming up for four three-pointers in the second half of a comeback 46-40 District 11 4A quarterfinal win over Tamaqua (16-7, 10-4) at Martz Hall on Saturday.
North Schuylkill will match up with Blue Mountain in the District 11 4A semifinals on Feb. 25 at a site and time TBA.
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North Schuylill’s Ella Digris (32) gains control of a loose ball during the District 11 4A playoff game against Tamaqua at Martz Hall in Pottsville Saturday 2/21/26. Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer
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North Schuylill’s Mya Conti (3) goes up against Tamaqua’s Kendle Miller (32) en route to the basket during the District 11 4A playoff game at Martz Hall in Pottsville Saturday 2/21/26. Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer
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North Schuylill’s Monica Selgrade (2) during the District 11 4A playoff game against Tamaqua at Martz Hall in Pottsville Saturday 2/21/26. Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer
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Tamaqua’s Lauren Ligenza (21) during the District 11 4A playoff game against North Schuylkill at Martz Hall in Pottsville Saturday 2/21/26. Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer
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Tamaqua’s Leah Black (34) during the District 11 4A playoff game against North Schuylkill at Martz Hall in Pottsville Saturday 2/21/26. Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer
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Tamaqua’s Kendle Miller (32) is trapped by North Schuylkill’s Gianna Capone (15) during the District 11 4A playoff game against North Schuylkill at Martz Hall in Pottsville Saturday 2/21/26. Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer
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North Schuylill’s Mya Conti (3) goes up to the basket during the District 11 4A playoff game against Tamaqua at Martz Hall in Pottsville Saturday 2/21/26. Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer
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North Schuylill’s Mya Conti (3) takes the ball down court as Tamaqua’s Makenna Ellington (5) and Kendle Miller chase during the District 11 4A playoff game at Martz Hall in Pottsville Saturday 2/21/26. Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer
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North Schuylill’s Gianna Capone (15) reaches for the rebound during the District 11 4A playoff game against Tamaqua at Martz Hall in Pottsville Saturday 2/21/26. Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer
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North Schuylill’s Ella Digris (32) gains control of a loose ball during the District 11 4A playoff game against Tamaqua at Martz Hall in Pottsville Saturday 2/21/26. Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer
North Schuylkill trailed 29-21 at halftime just to go on a 16-3 scoring run in the third quarter, led by Mya Conti’s seven points and a number of turnovers for the 37-32 lead at the end of the third.
“Our press and keeping the intensity up on the defensive end of the floor worked today,” North Schuylkill’s Gianna Capone said. “We all just really wanted to win and we couldn’t let them score more than 40 points.”
Capone hit a pair of three’s in the third quarter while Ella Digris and Conti also knocked down three’s in the third to pull away for good. The Spartans swarmed Tamaqua and forced 15 turnovers.
“Defensively now if we can put ourselves in good position and allow teams to that amount of points we’ll be able to escape with wins,” Wetzel said. “It’s our turn and we have all sorts of leaders.”
Conti led North Schuylkill with 17 points and Capone chipped in with 15 points. Monica Selgrade and Capone each had five rebounds and Conti brought in four steals defensively
A Kendle Miller three gave Tamaqua a 5-0 lead to start the game. Lauren Ligenza added a pair of putback baskets for the 9-4 lead with just under two minutes left in the first.
North Schuylkill brought the deficit within 9-8 at the end of the first quarter on a Conti three-pointer.
“Mya (Conti) is a really good leader and keeps us in check always and is helping to keep the pressure up,” Capone said. “This is big for us and it helps playing a team with some height going forward in the playoffs.”
Jadelin Stitzer got involved for the Spartans to open the second quarter with a pair of layups and the 12-11 lead just over a minute into the second quarter.
Tamaqua then went on a 15-0 scoring run through the second quarter, led by Millie Black’s trio of layups, for the 26-12 lead with two minutes left in the first half. Miller hit a three and the Blue Raiders took a 29-19 lead with a minute left in the first.
Black closed out the second quarter with 10 points and Miller hit a pair of three’s for Tamaqua’s 29-21 halftime lead.
Digris, Capone and Conti each hit three-pointers to open the second half for the 30-29 lead. Another Conti steal and full court layup gave the Spartan a 32-30 lead and marked an 11-1 scoring run.
“We executed the right way and took the right shots we had to take,” Wetzel said. “In this game we pulled the ball, used the clock and we got the shots we wanted. We made better decisions.”
Conti drove underneath for another layup before Capone knocked down a three for the 37-32 lead at the end of the third quarter.
“We already lost to them this season and we didn’t want that to happen again,” Capone said. “That really motivated us because we wanted to get to the district championship and win.”
The Spartans got aggressive in the fourth quarter when Conti scooped in a layup and drew a pair of fouls while scoring five points for the 46-40 win.
Black led Tamaqua with 18 points, Miller scored 10 points and Ligenza scored eight points. Ligenza brought in nine rebounds to lead the Blue Raiders front court.
TAM (16-7, 10-4);9;20;3;8;—40
NS (16-7, 11-3);8;13;16;9;—46
Tamaqua 40 — Osenbach 0 0-0 0, Black 8 2-7 18, Ellington 0 0-0 0, Bamford 0 0-0 0, York 0 0-0 0, Knitter 0 0-0 0, Ligenza 3 2-2 8, Coleman 0 0-0 0, Miller 3 1-2 10, Conahan 0 0-0 0, Black 0 2-2 2, Gormley 1 0-0 2. 15 7-13 40.
North Schuylkill 46 — Selgrade 1 3-4 5, Conti 6 3-4 17, Capone 5 0-1 13, Jad. Stitzer 3 0-0 6, Digris 1 0-0 3, Balicki 0 0-0 0, Rose 0 0-0 0, Urbanowicz 1 0-0 2, Gawrylik 0 0-0 0, Klingerman 0 0-0 0, Jol. Stitzer 0 0-0 0, Smith 0 0-0 0. 17 6-9 46.
3-FG: Miller 3, Capone 3, Conti 2, Digris