17 hours Ago By Quinn Burkitt
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — North Schuylkill head coach Richard Wetzel knew his team was battle tested for road games just like the one at Schuylkill Haven Tuesday. The Spartans (5-3) have only played three home games this season and are now 4-1 on the road after a 58-37 demolition of Schuylkill Haven (8-3). “We’ve played three teams ranked in the state the past few games and we play those games so we can play these games,” said North Schuylkill head coach Richard Wetzel.
“We needed the fast start and I thought today we came out with the right intensity from the start.” North Schuylkill had a hunch they weren’t going to have trouble getting to basket early on when they jumped out to an 8-0 lead and took 13-1 and 15-2 leads in the opening quarter. The opening quarter ultimately set the tone for how the Spartans eased by Schuylkill Haven.
North Schuylkill especially excelled defensively where they scooped up 14 steals, led by Mya Conti’s five steals. “We know defense is our game and everyone really works together to be aggressive and take away passes,” said Conti. North Schuylkill’s Hannah Kane (30) drives past Schuylkill Haven’s Audrey Hutchinson (2) during the game at Schuylkill Haven Tuesday evening January 7, 2025.
Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer North Schuylkill’s Mya Conti (3) during the game at Schuylkill Haven Tuesday evening January 7, 2025. Johnathan B.
Paroby / contributing photographer Schuylkill Haven’s Anna Schaeffer (4) goes up for two over North Schuylkill’s Jadelin Stitzer (24) during the game at Schuylkill Haven Tuesday evening January 7, 2025. Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer Schuylkill Haven’s Mckenna Runkle (21) goes up against Schuylkill Haven’s Jadelin Stitzer (24) and Gianna Capone (15) during the game at Schuylkill Haven Tuesday evening January 7, 2025.
Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer North Schuylkill’s Hannah Kane (30) shoots a three over Schuylkill Haven’s Taylor Haag (5) during the game at Schuylkill Haven Tuesday evening January 7, 2025. Johnathan B.
Paroby / contributing photographer Schuylkill Haven’s Anna Schaeffer (4) battles North Schuylkill’s Gianna Capone (15) and Jadelin Stitzer (24) for a loose ball during the game at Schuylkill Haven Tuesday evening January 7, 2025. Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer North Schuylkill’s Hannah Kane (30) drives past Schuylkill Haven’s Audrey Hutchinson (2) during the game at Schuylkill Haven Tuesday evening January 7, 2025.
Johnathan B. Paroby / contributing photographer The Spartans aggressive nature defensively led to a number of fast break points. They were also able to get to the free throw line where they scored 16 of their 58 total points.
Conti led North Schuylkill’s offense with 25 points while Gianna Capone bucketed 12 more points and Hannah Kane added seven points. A Conti three-point basket and another three points from Gianna Capone sparked North Schuylkill’s initial 8-0 run to start the game. “We came out fiery at first and everyone really pushed it at the beginning and we knew we wanted this game,” said Conti.
The Spartans went for seven steals in the opening quarter, most leading to fast break layup points, for the 16-5 lead heading to the second quarter. North Schuylkill didn’t slow down in the second quarter when they went on a 12-4 run through the opening three minutes of the second quarter for the 27-10 lead. That 12-4 scoring run was highlighted by a Capone three and five points scored in the second quarter as well as Conti’s four points.
“We know we want to beat teams at their home gym,” said Conti. “We always want to win no matter where we play.” McKenna Runkle and Ava Terefencko each scored six points in the first half to lead Schuylkill Haven’s offense early.
North Schuylkill led Schuylkill Haven 33-20 at halftime. The Hurricanes fought back in the third quarter and brought the deficit within nine points, 39-30, near the end of the quarter after a Runkle three-pointer. It wouldn’t last as North Schuylkill took back the energy and went on a 10-0 run, led by Conti’s nine points and Hannah Kane’s five points in the third quarter.
“That’s credit to the maturity of our younger players,” said Wetzel. “This is all brand new to them and this is a stepping stone to where we want to be.” The Spartans took back the momentum and led 49-30 at the end of the third quarter.
Conti wasn’t done as she added five more points in the fourth quarter and Monica Selgrade scored three points for North Schuylkill’s 58-37 victory. Schuylkill Haven was led offensively by Runkle’s 15 points and Alea Porter’s six points. North Schuylkill hosts Whitehall Thursday at 7 p.
m. and Schuylkill Haven travels to Pine Grove Friday at 5:30 p.m.
North Schuylkill 58 — Conti 8 7-11 25, Monahan 0 6-8 6, Capone 5 1-2 12, Jad. Stitzer 0 1-2 12, Kane 3 0-0 7, Selgrade 2 1-3 5, Urbanowicz 0 0-0 0, Balicki 1 0-0 2, Klingerman 0 0-0 0, Jul. Stitzer 0 0-0 0, Degris 0 0-0 0, Conapinski 0 0-0 0, Halko 0 0-0 0, Kowalonek 0 0-0 0 Schuylkill Haven 37 — Runkle 4 6-8 15, Siket 1 2-4 4, Hutchinson 0 0-0 0, Schaeffer 2 0-2 4, Porter 1 4-6 6, Ulsh 0 0-0 0, Terfencko 0 6-10 6, Haag 0 0-0 0, McDonald 1 0-0 2, Goehring 0 0-0 0, Houvig 0 0-0 0 NS (5-3);15;18;16;9;—58 SH (8-3);6;14;10;7;—37.
