POTTSVILLE – The curtain came down on a talented Tamaqua girls’ basketball team Saturday afternoon in Martz Hall. The Blue Raiders’ talented group of seniors took a final bow, just not the way they would have liked.

Allentown Central Catholic used its size and physicality to oust Tamaqua 49-41 in an elimination game of the District 11 Class 4A tournament.

The Blue Raiders (19-6) superbly talented Emma Kuczynski became just the third player in school history to reach the 2,000-point mark in her career.

At the 6:06 mark of the third period, Kuczynski reached the milestone with a foul shot.

Kuczynski bobbed and weaved, soared and skied for 24 points in the loss, while teammate Emily Titus scored 10 in her final appearance in blue and white. But their efforts weren’t enough against the Vikings (14-10).

The Raiders couldn’t quite contain the strong inside force of 5-10 Maria Traglia (10 rebounds, five offensive), especially when she planted her strength inside. The Vikings also got a staunch effort by Julia Roth, who scored a team-high 19 points to lead a balanced ACC attack.. The Vikings’ trio combined for 35 points, and the scoring of Madalyn Szoke (eight), Hanna Hoeing (four) and Emily Vaughn (eight) gave the Vikings the extra firepower they needed.

“We knew Kuczynski was a great player, and she is so good, as is Titus, our concern was to give those points (up) and shut down the other shooters,” said Central coach Mike Kopp

The start wasn’t good for the Raiders, falling behind 10-3, before a timeout by coach Erika Davis reenergized the group and turned into a 6-2 rally, with Titus scoring a deuce and Kuczynski hitting the final four points in the quarter.

ACC went up 19-14 when Roth and Maria Saccani did the scoring, but Baylee Reinhardt and Kuczynski each sank foul shots to close the half down 19-16.

“I didn’t think we were in bad shape at that point, considering that we didn’t shoot the ball all that well in the first two quarters,” suggested Davis, whose team went 4-for-20 from the floor in that span.

Things started to heat up for Tamaqua, and when Kuczynski stole a pass and went coast-to-coast for a deuce, the deficit was 22-21, keeping the Raiders alive and breathing. However, ACC got its house back in order on a Szoke breakaway, and Vaughn added two foul shots before both Szoke and Traglia posted up inside for uncontested points to push the lead to 37-23.

But in a flash, the Raiders turned to Kuczynski for a triple, and Reinhardt sank a pair of charity shots to stay within reach at 37-28.

The Vikings rode the inside play of Roth for a 42-31 score, and the only answer for the Raiders was a trey by Titus. But Tamaqua wasn’t ready to ride off into the sunset just yet.

The Raiders turned to their most valuable resources – Titus first with a three-point play, then Kuczynski, who hit back-to-back tough inside shots with 1:41 left that made the score 44-39.

But ACC went to its strong suit inside, using Treglia for a bucket, and Roth and Vaughn each hit foul shots, before the former fittingly sank Tamaqua’s hopes for a run at the PIAA State tournament with the final point at the charity stripe.

“I really thought for sure we had something left,” said Davis when her team cut the lead to five points. “You know, we needed more than two to step up. It was just one of those things. I really didn’t think we played our best. But we played very hard.”

ALL HUSTLE AND GUTS … Jamie Zuber made things happen with her quick feet and hands, something she’s done all season. Same for junior Sophia Boyle.

TRIED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN … Jen Fredrickson and fellow senior Rebekah Hromyak kept poking away but were outmuscled several times, but not outhustled.

FIRE AWAY … It was a tough afternoon from the field for the Raiders. Tamaqua shot 15-for-50 (30%). The Vikings finished at 51.3% (20-39).

GLASSWARE … ACC had 33 rebounds, with Traglia pulling in 10. Kuczynski led Tamaqua with 11.

C’ EST LA VIE … Tamaqua’s departing seniors, who won 63 games in their four seasons, included Kuczynski, Titus, Reinhardt, Zuber, Hromyak and Fredrickson.

CENTRAL CATHOLIC

Saccani 1-0-0-2, Vaughan 2-4-6-8, Hoeing 1-1-2-4, Roth 7-5-10-19, Traglia 3-2-4-8, Szoke 4-0-2-8. TOTALS: 18-12-24-49.

TAMAQUA

Kuczynski 9-2-4-24, Titus 4-1-1-10, Reinhardt 0-3-4-3, Zuber 1-0-0-2, Fredrickson 1-0-0-2, Hromyak 0-0-0-0, Boyle 0-0-0-0, Hope 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 15-6-9-41.

Central Cath. 12 7 18 12 - 49

Tamaqua 9 7 12 13 - 41

Three-pointers: Central Catholic - Hoeing 1; Tamaqua - Kuczynski 4, Titus 1.