HS BASKETBALL: Bears outlast Nativity, remain undefeated

KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Mahanoy Area's Jace Yedsena leaps for a dunk in Tuesday's matchup against Nativity BVM.

MAHANOY CITY – The Bears are 19-0 after they survived what was a close battle throughout on Tuesday.

Nativity BVM (12-7) came into the Mickey Holland Gymnasium with one goal: to knock off the only undefeated boys’ basketball squad in District XI.

For much of Tuesday’s game, it looked like the Hilltoppers might pull it off.

KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – Mahanoy Area’s Jace Yedsena steals a Nativity pass.

The two squads exchanged blows throughout the first quarter, which ended with a 19-17 advantage in Mahanoy’s favor, and that gap narrowed at the half, 32-31 Mahanoy.

In the third quarter, the Bears had some more breathing room with a 43-38 lead midway through, but that was short lived. The Hilltoppers knotted the score at 49-apiece entering the final stanza.

KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL – Mahanoy Area’s Kadin Styka passes the ball.

A few minutes into the fourth quarter, tied at 51-apiece, the Bears would pull away for good.

Mahanoy won Tuesday’s game 71-58, their 19th win on the season. Nativity falls to 12-7.

Their next game is home Thursday against Williams Valley (8-9).

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Scoreboard 1/30/2024

BOYS BASKETBALL
Shenandoah Valley 33
Marian Catholic 70

North Schuylkill 78
Lehighton 70

Hazleton 68
Crestwood 46

Mount Carmel 82
Loyalsock Township 42

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