Jim Thorpe made the most of its first trip to districts since 2002.

The Olympians gave unbeaten Tamaqua all it could handle for the better part of 32 minutes.

A veteran Tamaqua side’s ability and too many empty possessions became too much for Jim Thorpe to overcome.

Once again Amy Zehner provided the Blue Raiders’ offensive firepower and an underrated defense stepped up to shut down the Olympians over the final three quarters as Tamaqua advanced to the District 11 Class AAA girls’ basketball semifinals with a 43-30 win Saturday at Martz Hall.

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JIM THORPE – Television broadcaster Dan Patrick would only need two words to describe Celeste Robinson.

En fuego.

The Jim Thorpe guard continued her recent hot streak Friday, scoring a game-high 30 points and pulling down 19 rebounds in the Olympians’ 54-43 victory over Blue Mountain in a Schuylkill League Division I contest.

The victory, coupled with Tamaqua’s win over Pine Grove, leaves the Eagles (12-6, 6-3 D-I), Olympians (14-4, 6-3) and Cardinals (14-3, 5-3) virtually tied for second place in the Division I standings.

It marked the seventh time this season Robinson scored 30 or more points.
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Blue Mountain 62 Jim Thorpe 47

ORWIGSBURG – Jake Cryts paced a trio of double-digit scorers with a game-high 20 points as the Eagles defeated the Olympians in a Division I game.

Mike Tobash added 16 points and Kyle O’Brien netted 14 for Blue Mountain, which used a 30-12, second-half outburst to take control.

J.T. Otto and P.J. Johnson each scored 13 for Jim Thorpe, while Dean DiBonifazio added 12.

Jim Thorpe 64 Panther Valley 24

JIM THORPE – Celeste Robinson continued her scoring tear, going for 27 points, as the Olympians routed the Panthers in a Division I game.

Robinson recorded 17 points in the first half as Jim Thorpe built a 34-10 lead. Kristin Lawrence added 13 points and Chelsea Smelas pitched in 12 for the Olympians.

Jim Thorpe 68 North Schuylkill 55

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS – Celeste Robinson poured in a game-high 38 points, leading the Olympians to a Division I victory over the Spartans.

Robinson scored 28 of her points in the first half as Jim Thorpe jumped out to a 44-17 halftime advantage.

Chelesa Smelas added 14 points for the Olympians.

Shelby Weikel had 21 points to lead North Schuylkill while Caitlyn Deeter added 10.

Jim Thorpe 39, Shenandoah Valley 11 – Jim Thorpe outscored Shenandoah Valley 25-6 in the second half to wrap up the victory.

Celeste Robinson dropped in 16 points to lead Jim Thorpe.

Kristen Lawrence drained three three-pointers to post 12 points and Brittany Holland scored seven for the Lady Olympians.

Molly Carduff topped Shenandoah Valley with four points and Amanda Hysock netted three.

Shenandoah Valley won the JV contest, 38-20.

Nicole Sacco and Erin Buchanan both scored eight points to lead the Lady Devils.

Danielle Becker bested Jim Thorpe with six points.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY (11)

Hysock 1 0-0 3, DeAngelo 0 1-2 1, Norwich 0 0-0 0, Carduff 2 0-0 4, Michalik 0 0-0 0, Huss 1 0-0 2, Gottshall 0 0-1 0, Sacco 0 1-2 1, Bolschi 0 0-0 0, Grutza 0 0-0 0. Totals 4 2-5 11.

JIM THORPE (39)

McElmoyle 0 0-0 0, Batts 0 0-1 0, Lawrence 3 3-3 12, Holland 1 5-6 7, Robinson 7 2-7 16, Smelas 2 0-0 4, Mosteller 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 10-17 39.

SVHS ………………………………………….3 2 3 3 – 11

JTHS ………………………………………..8 6 16 9 – 39

3-FG: Hysock. Lawrence 3.

“Jim Thorpe has been another pleasant surprise, starting the season 10-2 with a chance to qualify for districts for the first time in recent memory with a win tonight over Pine Grove.

The rise for the Olympians has been steady since Rob Kovac took over the program four seasons ago. It seems to be reaching a crescendo.

Success for Jim Thorpe this season hasn’t been unexpected with its improvement over the past two seasons.

The key to the postseason will be in continuing momentum, rather than letting it slide away like the Olympians did last season in missing districts with a couple of losses down the stretch.”

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JIM THORPE – Celeste Robinson’s 15 points paced three Olympians in double figures in their Division I victory over the Crimson Tide.

Chelsea Smelas added 14 points for Jim Thorpe, while Kristin Lawrence added 10, including three 3-pointers.

Taylor Gerchak had 13 points for Pottsville, and Julie Bulino added 10.

The victory pulls the Olympians within a game of the Division I lead and a victory away from qualifying for the District 11 Class AAA playoffs.

Blue Mountain 61 Jim Thorpe 39

ORWIGSBURG – Ashley Davies scored 14 points and ripped down 16 rebounds to lead the Eagles to a Division I victory over Jim Thorpe.

Jillian Grapsy added 13, and Shanelle Koch chipped in with 12 for the balanced Blue Mountain offense.

Celeste Robinson had a game-high 24 points for the Olympians.