Something had to give between a pair of highly-competitive girls basketball teams Friday evening.

Lehighton and Tamaqua are no strangers, and they played a spirited contest in what can be looked at as a playoff type atmosphere.

With the Indians controlling play, Tamaqua struggled to find its rhythm.

Until the end!

The Blue Raiders showed their resolve, getting a terrific game-tying shot from one Kendle Miller – a triple no less – then the coup de grace from a freshman who has yet to feel pressure.

Rangy and lanky Lauren Ligenza let loose with a left-handed floater that touched nothing but net to bring the house down in this thrilling 33-31 victory for Tamaqua.

It was also a pivotal game, more so for the Raiders, in this Schuylkill League Division I pairing.

The way things are shaping up, both of these teams are fighting for space at the end of the regular season league tournament, with Tamaqua jumping to 2-1 in Division 1 while the Tribe slip to 1-2,

No one expected it to go to the wire. Especially Miller, who scored a team-high 14 points, including three triples.

The way it ended left Tamaqua coach Erika Davis speechless.

“I can’t say anything,” Davis said leaving the locker.

Miller, a rising sophomore, did plenty of talking with her performance.

“There was no set play,” Miller explained about the chaotic ending and her shot from the left side. “Coach just told us to stay composed, and my team was such a big help. I just got open and got a good look.”

That tied the game 31-31 as the clock turned to 0:59, with the Indians getting at least a shot at retaking the lead. Unfortunately, there was a turnover at the other end with 21 seconds remaining.

Davis called a timeout, and Miller said there wasn’t a special play drawn up, but to find the open player, and in this case Ligenza was free. She sat down in the low post, moved up to near the foul line getting an entry pass.

Ligenza moved back into the paint, calmly took her left-hand and swished in what would be the winning shot with just five ticks to play, and not enough time for Lehighton to make a miracle shot.

“It was awesome, we really needed it,” Miller said of Ligenza’s game-winner.

It was a back-breaker for the Tribe, as their defense held Ligenza in check throughout this fierce game.

“You got to give Tamaqua credit, they outplayed us in (the second half),” said veteran Lehighton coach Joe Berezwick.

“You got give this kid credit,” he said pointing to Miller’s scoring. “And Ligenza, a big name in Tamaqua (sports) and she really came up big for them with the game on the line.”

The sequence nearly never came to pass. The Indians were in control, rolling to leads of 14-2 after a quarter, and 22-11 at halftime.

The Tribe kept flustering Tamaqua’s offense, causing turnovers – eight in the first quarter alone – and the defense shocked the Blue Raiders into an 0-for-3 first quarter shooting performance, and 3-for-15 mark at the half.

Meanwhile, the Tribe were buzzing, getting terrific energy off the play of Charli McHugh, who led her team with 11 points, while Leah Uuvari and Emma Repsher each scored seven points.

“The difference was the way Tamaqua came out in the second half with that (3-2) zone,” Berezwick explained. “They just outhustled us, they outplayed us in that second half, and we got frustrated.”

Tamaqua started to turn the page to open the second half with an 8-0 run, led by Miller, Loreli Plasha and Sarah Hope. But there was a slight breath of fresh air by Lehighton at the end of that period thanks to McHugh and Ryleigh Trotman keeping their team ahead 28-22.

It was still a positive vibe for the Tribe, leading 30-25 with 2:41 to play in the game. Then Plasha got a key assist from her sister, Sam Plasha, for a bucket, but Lehighton answered with a foul conversion from Cayley Reph (31-27). Little did anyone think, it would be the final point for Lehighton with 1:52 remaining.

Up stepped Legenza with a foul shot, then it was Miller time, who tied it. And then Ligenza delivered the game-winner.

COOL IDEA

… Great event put together by Tamaqua AD Mike Hromyak with the girls and boys twinbills Friday. The house was nearly packed.

SHOOTING IT UP

… Unofficial shooting chart had Tamaqua 11-for-37, and Lehighton 12-for-40. Tamaqua had the better of it off the glass, 37-27, led by Ligenza (11) and Miller (10), who had a double-double.

LEHIGHTON

Barthol 1-0-0-2, McHugh 3-5-6-11, Klotz 1-0-0-2, Uyvori 3-0-0-7, Trotman 1-0-0-2, Repsher 3-1-2-7. TOTALS: 12-6-8-31.

TAMAQUA

Robb 1-0-0-2, Plasha, S. 0-0-0-0, Ligenza 1-2-4-4, Hope 0-7-12-7, Plasha 3-0-2-6, Miller 5-1-2-14, Bartenope 0-0-0-0, Black 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 10-10-24-33.

Lehighton 14 8 6 3 - 31

Tamaqua 2 9 11 11 - 33

Three-pointers: Lehighton - Uyvori 1. Tamaqua - Miller 3.