In a one-sided rivalry game, home team Minersville defeated Nativity 70-43 in boys basketball on Saturday afternoon. Two future Division 1 football players, Noah Doblin of Nativity and Dante Carr of Minersville played each other. However, neither of them had the game high in points as that went to Logan Hutsko of the Battlin’ Miners.
Hutsko had all layups as his 14 points for the Battlin’ Miners. Bradley Kostishak contributed with 11 points along with Jordan Bowers, Carr, and AJ Halford scoring nine each. Other scorers for Minersville included Dawsyn Manning (8), Shazier Bethea (7), Chase Zimerofsky (2), and Kaseem Lofton (1). For the Hilltoppers, one of the best players in the Schuylkill League, Trey Keating, had 16 points along with Sam Walborn who scored 14. Doblin contributed with two pointers for a total of eight. Other Nativity scorers were Jacob Bowman (2), Layne Pasker (2), and Nicholas Clarke (1).
From the first quarter, Minersville took control of the game where they went up 25-8 with Bowers leading with his three-pointers. The second quarter highlighted Hutsko, who led the Miners with ten points. Going to the third quarter, the Battlin’ Miners went up 30 with Hutsko once again leading in scoring, this time with 14. He stopped his scoring run in the fourth quarter as Bowers stayed in with Shane Fessler, Brandon Adams, Kaseem Lofton, and Jacob Mealey of the Junior Varsity team, who were subbed in to secure Minersville’s victory over Nativity.
We were able to interview Hutsko after the game where they limited Keating to only 16 points. He credited the solid defensive mindset that he and his teammates have. Minersville is around the halfway mark of their season and their team goal is to improve everyday.
With the victory, Minersville improved to 10-2 overall. On the other hand, Nativity fell to 6-7 on the season. Both teams are expected to be in the Schuylkill League playoffs at the end of the season at Martz Hall which is one of the best postseason tournaments out of all of the leagues in District 11.
