SHENANDOAH – The game plan was working to perfection.

Marian’s defense was throttling Shenandoah Valley time and again.

When it turned to the big man inside, the Colts’ Brendan Lonergan responded both offensively and defensively.

Marian coach John Patton had to like what was unfolding in this tense, pressure-packed Schuylkill League Division III Boys Basketball League opener.

But the Colts’ control started to fade quicker than the coming of the Winter Solstice.

Meanwhile, Shenandoah Valley found its balance and made a late-game charge to pull out a 49-41 victory.

“We tried to force things, and we didn’t do a very good job of taking advantage when Luke (Matta) got in foul trouble,” said Patton. “Those are the things you need to do … but we’re learning.”

Just when Marian started to gain momentum with Matta saddled on the bench with his foul issues and a busted lip, Lonergan drained a pair of buckets and Frankie Valente pulled off a spinning drive to the basket that sent a signal to Shenandoah Valley: The Colts would spring to a 21-12 lead.

“We had them on the ropes, but we are still not understanding the game,” Patton said after watching his team turn the ball over 25 times.

That was much to the delight of the Blue Devils when the second half rolled around. Standout senior guard Owen Kosar would score his 1,000th career point in the second half, as the game started to turn into a meat grinder.

“It had to be that way,” Robbie Miller said when asked about the physicality throughout the contest. “I thought Marian was a little tougher in the first half, they were diving for loose balls; I thought there were charges that would we could have taken; Lonergan taking it to Matta and getting him in foul trouble, those were things we talked about at the half.”

Miller’s words did not fall on deaf ears, as his team responded.

Shenandoah Valley ripped off six-straight points to open the half. Nick Mikita sank a basket, Matta was fouled after making a bucket, and while he missed the back-end, Mikita was Johnny-on-the-spot with a rebound put back.

The Colts (0-1, 1-1) seemed to quell the surge, but it was only momentarily, as Lonergan netted three points and Joey Walko added a bucket as the Colts seemed ready to knock Shenandoah to the canvas. Valente’s four points and Julius Currie’s corner three had the Colts up 35-28.

But the hosts were not melting like butter on a hot summer’s day. They fired up the engine thanks mainly to Kaleb Maksimik, Matthew Alvarez and Kosar.

Kosar finally made it to the Grand Club with 4:27 to play, but with 3:25 on the clock, Currie made a schoolyard deuce to forge a 41-41 tie.

That’s when the Blue Devils (1-0, 3-1) rose to the occasion. Kosar broke the tie, before Maksimik drained a pair of free throws for a 46-41 lead. Matta and Alvarez then added icing to the victory cake at the foul line.

DONNYBROOK … Talk about kicking up some dust, both teams were not giving away one iota. It was a top-notch effort from both teams, not to mention great atmosphere for an early-season game.

STAT CITY … Colts had the edge off the glass with a 30-22 rebounding advantage. Valente had nine rebounds, while Jose Espaillat Turbi pulled in eight for the Colts.

BY THE NUMBERS … Marian was led by Lonergan with 13 points, while Valente and Currie added eight apiece. The Blue Devils found Alvarez with game-high 15, Mikita 10 and Kosar nine.

THE DAGGER … Marian got outscored 18-4 in the final eight minutes, while shooting 2-of-10, and turning the ball over eight times in the quarter.

JVs … The Colts picked up a 42-27 JV win. Leading the way was James Rodino with 11 points.

MARIAN

Lonergan 6-1-3-13, Valente 3-2-2 8, Currie 3-0-0-8, Espaillat Turbi 3-0-0-6, Fritz 2-0-0-4, Walko 1-0-2, Ramirez 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 18-3-5-41.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY

Alvarez 6-1-1-15, 4-1-4-10, Kosar 3-3-7-9, Maksimik 3-2-3-8, Matta 2-1-3-5, Boris 1-0-0-2. TOTALS: 19-8-18-49.

Marian 11 12 14 4 - 41

Shenandoah 6 11 14 18 - 49

Three-pointers: Marian - Currie 2; Shenandoah - Alvarez 2.