If Nadia Gauronsky was concerned that playing a Minersville team with only sophomores and freshmen was a trap game, the first four minutes on Saturday removed any doubt the Jim Thorpe head coach might have had.

Jumping out to a 12-0 lead and ahead by 41-13 at the half, Gauronsky’s undefeated Olympians cruised past the Battlin’ Miners by a 65-34 score.

The game did hold a bit of drama, as the home crowd anxiously waited for senior Olivia Smelas to score her 1,000th point.

Needing only one point to have her name displayed on the gym banner, Smelas missed her first attempt. But less than a minute later, her one-hander in the lane stopped the game with an official’s whistle to allow for a wave of hugs from teammates and family who had arrived at center court carrying balloons and flowers to celebrate the moment.

After the game, Gauronsky talked about the privilege it has been the past two years to coach Smelas - as well as JT’s other 1,000-point scorers, Skyler Searfoss and Leila Hurley.

“Olivia has put a lot of time in the offseason to improve her game and today was her well-deserved moment,” said Gauronsky.

Smelas enjoyed the experience and gave credit to where she believes it belongs.

“It feels amazing,” said Smelas about the accomplishment. “I could never have done this without the help of my teammates.”

The game featured another episode of Thorpe’s “White Freeze” smothering defense that caused Minersville (1-4) to turn the ball over 11 times in the first period and 25 for the full 32 minutes. Turnovers led to transition layups and high percentage shots, allowing the Olympians to build their early insurmountable advantage.

Following Leah Snisky’s bank shot for the 12-0 lead, Minersville’s Brooke Kopinetz hit a long three-pointer. But Jim Thorpe (7-0) then went on a 19-3 tear to lead 31-6 after one.

The onslaught featured a steal and a fullcourt driving layup and two three-pointers by Hurley. Searfoss finished the period with a three-point play on a basket and free throw.

After her celebration, Smelas scored two straight buckets on spinning bank shots down low. Mackenzie Yuhas got into the books with a two-pointer off the glass and a nifty reverse layup with 30 seconds left before the intermission that sent the O’s to their team room with a hefty 36-point lead.

“Our team goal was to improve our offensive halfcourt sets and I think we did that today,” said Gauronsky. “Of course, our pressure defense took them out of the game early so we could work on some things.”

Appropriately, Smelas led the Olympians in scoring with 14 points. Kopinetz also tallied 14 to pace the Battlin’ Miners.

DOUBLE-DIGIT DIVAS ... The Olympians pride themselves on unselfish play and the statistics prove it with their balanced scoring. Searfoss, Hurley, Smelas and Snisky have all tallied double digits in six of their seven games this season, and Yuhas has done the same the last three games in a row.

THREE FOR THE BOOKS ... Smelas, Searfoss and Hurley are all now 1,000-point members. The last area team with three 1,000-point scorers on the same floor was the Marian girls during the 1983-84 season.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR ... On Saturday, Thorpe hosts currently unbeaten Lake Lehman at noon. A week later, the O’s are home for a clash against undefeated Dunmore.

MINERSVILLE

Brennan 2-2-2-6, Kopinetz 5-0-0-14, Castle 1-0-0-2, Hart 0-0-0-0, Raczka 5-2-4-12, Colna 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 13-4-6-34.

JIM THORPE

O. Smelas 6-2-2-14, L. Snisky 5-2-2-12, Yuhas 6-0-0-12, Hurley 4-0-0-10, Searfoss 4-2-2-10, H. Smelas 1-0-0-3, Hartman 1-0-0-2, B. Snisky 1-0-0-2, Cinicola 0-0-0-0, Ginopolis 0-0-0-0, Wainwright 0-0-0-0, Robinson 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 28-6-6-65.

Minersville 6 7 6 15 - 34

Jim Thorpe 31 18 12 4 - 65

Three- pointers: Minersville - Kopinetz 4; Jim Thorpe - Hurley 2, H.Smelas 1.