The growing pains are evident.

With nary a veteran in the fold, the Tamaqua boys basketball team is trying to figure things out.

While the Raiders are still taking baby steps, Pine Grove is a seasoned crew. That was in full view during the second half on Friday as the Cardinals broke open a tight game and rolled to a 45-25 Schuylkill League victory.

The win keeps the Cardinals (5-1, 4-1) within striking distance of unbeatens Blue Mountain and Pottsville in Division I. Meanwhile, Tamaqua, has yet to find a win in five league starts.

“We keep shooting ourselves in the foot,” Tamaqua coach Jim Barron said. “It’s frustrating. Llike I told these guys we’re our own worst enemy. The mistakes we make we give them points.”

For a while at the onset, the signs looked good for the home club. Nathan Hope bagged a three-pointer, Nate Gregoire posted up for a strong deuce and that served as a little momentum to go in front 10-6. Thereafter, it wasn’t pretty.

Pine Grove zipped on top thanks to Derrick Boyer’s two treys.

Tamaqua started to show growing pains in the second quarter with nary a field goal as Gregoire accounted for the only points both from the charity stripe. Not that Pine Grove was tearing it up, either going 2-for-10 from the field to ease in front at the break 17-12.

“I really thought we played very well on defense the entire game,” said Pine Grove coach Frank D’Agostino III. “I thought we stood around too much on offense, but we played much, much better in the second half.”

Indeed that showed when the Cardinals picked up the offensive pace shooting 7-for-12 from the floor in the third quarter as the defense remained relentless.

The visitors did things in spurts. Kolby Geesey and brother Daulton along with Josh Leininger nailed eight points in the first four minutes as PG surged in front, 25-14. A 9-1 run followed to extend the advantage to 34-15.

“I just went through things in my head and I figure we gave them 22 points by playing them the wrong way - by giving them the middle,” Barron explained about the way Pine Grove took control.

BALANCING IT OUT… Pine Grove looks to take the good shots, it seldom forced the ball. Boyer was the only double digit scorer for his side with 16 points.

TRYING TO KEEP IT TOGETHER … Seniors Gregoire and Hope are trying to keep the ship afloat for the Raiders. They combined for eight rebounds. Gregoire posted 11 points, and earned every one of those.

ODD NUMBERS … Pine Grove made only three trips to the foul line, but nailed eight triples.

PIECE OF THE PIE … Tamaqua salvaged a win in the junior varsity contest, 43-34. Steve Hoffman poured in a game-high 28 points for the Raiders.

PINE GROVE

Boyer 6-0-0-16, D. Geesey 4-0-0-8, Griffths 1-2-2-7, K. Geesey 2-0-0-6, Leininger 2-0-0-4, Unger 2-0-0-4, Skocik 0-0-0-0, Culbert 0-0-0-0, Brandt 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 18-1-2-45.

TAMAQUA

Gregoire 4-2-2-11, Verta 2-1-2-5, Hollenbach 2-0-0-5, Hope 1-1-2-4, Hoffman 0-0-0-0, Davis 0-0-0-0, Sherry 0-0-0-0, Andrews 0-0-0-0, Fannock 0-0-0-0, Berg 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 9-4-8-25.

Pine Grove 12 5 17 8 - 45

Tamaqua 10 2 3 10 - 25

Three-pointers: PG - Boyer 4, Griffths 2, K. Geese 2. T - Gregoire 1, Hollenbach 1, Hope 1.