Physicality was the theme of the Thursday night boys’ basketball showcase between the North Schuylkill Spartans and the Lehighton Indians. The game featured a plethora of lead changes and was hotly contested until the final buzzer.
Both teams started slow, setting up their offenses and attempting to run them. Both defenses held firm and they contributed to a low scoring first quarter. For the Indians Joe Roth would pace the scoring with nine. Cole Dietz, Owen Serfass, and Braydon Johnson added two each. North Schuylkill’s leading scorer was Zane Zulkowski with ten, followed by Joey Flail, Jack Keiter, and Tyrone Chambers each with two. At the end of the quarter, the score was 16-15 in favor of the Spartans.
The second quarter was similar to the first, yet with a different team in the lead by the end. Owen Serfass took control working to the free-throw line three times in the quarter totaling seven points. Cole Dietz and Blake Roberts each added three points, while Braydon Johnson tallied four. Joey Flail connected on two three-pointers to lead the Spartans in scoring. Jude Maziekas added a three-pointer. Jack Keiter and Fernando Rivera both scored two in the quarter. The Indians took the lead at the end of the quarter 32-29.
The Spartans flipped the script in the third quarter. Flail continued to perform adding five to lead NS in scoring for the third quarter. Zulkowski added four. Luke Miller and Jack Keiter each had three. Tyrone Chambers contributed two, with Jude Maziekas tallying a point from the charity stripe. Blake Roberts scored five to pace the Indian scoring. Joe Roth scored four, while Cole Dietz added two. The Spartans re-captured the lead with the score being 47-43.
The fourth quarter was the most physical of the game. Both teams put their bodies on the line to get the victory. The Spartans kept themselves out of foul trouble, only committing two for the quarter. The Indians, however, commited five fouls in the final quarter. Jack Keiter led the Spartan offensive effort with four points. Zane Zulkowski and Luke Miller each scored three. While Jude Maziekas added a point from the free-throw line. Joe Roth scored four for the Indians, and Cole Dietz connected on a three-pointer. The clock hit double zeroes with the Spartans winning 58-52.
The Indians look to bounce back in their next matchup at home against the Pine Grove Area Cardinals. The Spartans will stay at home for their next game to face the Whitehall Zephyrs.
