POTTSVILLE — Jim Thorpe’s girls basketball roster is undoubtedly young, with their top three scorers just sophomores.

But while the Olympians (21-2) may look young on paper, they have valuable postseason experience thanks to a deep playoff run a season ago.

Thanks in part to that extensive postseason background, the Olympians “big three” of Skyler Searfoss, Olivia Smelas and Leila Hurley all had big evenings at Martz Hall on Tuesday in the Schuylkill League semifinals.

The trio looked and played like seasoned veterans, combining for 50 points in Jim Thorpe’s 63-47 victory over Minersville.

The Olympians will now go after their second straight Schuylkill League championship when they face North Schuylkill in the finals on Friday.

The gameplan against the Miners was simple for Jim Thorpe — get the ball inside and attack the rim — and that’s exactly what it was able to do.

Powerful post player Smelas scored seven points in the first quarter, while Searfoss was able to consistently get to the bucket, and scored seven points as well.

The Olympians early success in the paint helped them lead 21-12 after a quarter.

“We knew they didn’t really have a big inside that could match up with us, so we wanted to get the ball to the post and drive to the basket early,” said Smelas. “My teammates did a great job of getting me the ball on the block, and we were also able to score by getting to the hoop. It was a good start.”

The Olympians have been known recently for their pressure defense, and the “D” was once again relentless, allowing them to build a 38-22 halftime advantage. Thorpe forced 10 turnovers in the second quarter, getting most of its points in transition. In all, JT forced 15 turnovers in the first half and shot 15-of-22 from the field.

“We like to take advantage of our size and quickness, especially defensively. We have nice length, and then we have girls that can really move their feet and have great instincts,” said Jim Thorpe head coach Rob Kovac. “But credit has to go to Minersville, because they kept fighting and never gave up, they always lingered.

“But that’s what Schuylkill League playoffs is all about, playing to the final horn and never giving up.”

The Miners, like their namesake, continued to dig throughout the night, and at times made things a little interesting.

Late in the third, it looked as if Minersville was going to possibly make it interesting after an Avaree Horoschak three cut the JT lead to 13. But a quick answer by Thorpe off a drive and kick from Searfoss to Hurley resulted in a triple to end the quarter and extend the Olympians’ margin to a comfortable 52-36.

It was a case of deja vu around the six-minute mark in the fourth with Minersville still battling and exchanging buckets with the Olympians, before a Hurley three from the left wing put Thorpe up 19 and put the Miners (16-7) away.

LEADERS ... Searfoss had a game-high 19 points for Jim Thorpe. Hurley added 16 and Smelas was strong inside with 15. Abby Adams led the Miners with 13 and Alex Kroznuskie hit four triples to get 12.

FROM DEEP ... The reason Thorpe couldn’t put the Miners away was their ability to shoot the three. Minersville came in hitting 160 threes on the season, and added 10 more in this one.

NEXT UP ... D1 champ Thorpe will take on D1 wildcard North Schuylkill on Friday at 6 p.m. at Martz Hall. The two split in the regular season after the Spartans recently upset JT in the regular season finale.

MINERSVILLE

Hossler 2-0-0-5, Koury 1-2-4-4, Horan 3-0-0-7, Adams 4-3-3-13, Kroznuskie 4-0-0-12, Horoschak 2-0-0-6, Levonas 0-0-0-0, Hollywood 0-0-0-0, Hertz 0-0-0-0, Corby 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 16-5-7-47.

JIM THORPE

Snisky 3-1-2-7, Hurley 4-6-7-16, Searfoss 7-5-6-19, O. Smelas 7-1-2-15, Yuhas 2-0-0-4, Craigie 1-0-0-2, Cinicola 0-0-0-0, Leight 0-0-0-0, H. Smelas 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 24-13-17-63

Minersville 12 10 14 11 - 47

Jim Thorpe 21 17 14 11 - 63

Three-pointers: Minersville - Kroznuskie 4, Adams 2, Horoschak 2, Horan 1, Hossler 1; Jim Thorpe - Hurley 2.