MINERSVILLE – This one went down to the wire.

To the final minute. The final second.

What more would you expect, from two undefeated teams in the Schuylkill League – Marian and Minersville.

And at one point, Minersville seemed to have the Fillies right where it wanted them. In a vice grip, tormenting them up and down the court. Daring Marian to make baskets.

These Battlin’ Miners were terrific early.

The Fillies, well not so much. Until the second half.

Getting a superb effort from freshman guard Deanna Pugh with her feisty play and sense of court awareness, Marian rallied to overcome a 13-point deficit to secure a 49-47 win.

Pugh was unbelievable in this pressure-packed atmosphere, delivering the game-winning basket in the final seconds.

The win keeps the Fillies undefeated in Division III play 6-0 (12-1). Minersville suffered its first league loss (5-1, 10-2) and fell into a tie with Schuylkill Haven in the Division II standings.

“They’re a darn good team, just look at all the balance they have,” said Minersville coach Jared Homa. “I’ll say this, it was a coaching mistake on my part.”

Homa said he should have stayed pat. Instead, he decided to play man defense to open the third quarter. And Marian took advantage.

Damian Fritz had his team feed the ball into the post, and it worked.

“Once they went man, that’s where we wanted to take advantage,” Fritz explained. Back-to-back buckets from Addy “Juice” Fritz and Aliya Tikhtova helped the Fillies cut Minersville’s 32-24 halftime lead to 32-28.

Then Pugh, who was active all evening, annoying Minersville’s backcourt play, forced two straight turnovers and suddenly momentum was taking a backseat in the Marian bus.

“Coming into tonight, we thought she would have a good game,” Fritz said. “Our scouting report was in her favor. The way she goes up and down the court, her tenacity, her instincts on the top of our zone and even in our full court ... we thought and we knew that she could have that type of performance.”

The 5-5 freshman was never intimidated on under the bright lights. Pugh was torching the Miners, and finished with 14 points, tying her with Minersville’s standout swing player Keera Brennan for game-high.

The tide slowly turned in favor of Marian in a third quarter which found it out-gunning the Miners 11-4. Minersville went 1-for-11 from the field, and when the quarter ended, it was all even at 35.

Minersville nearly looked like the winner heading down the final 3:47 to play, getting back on solid footing when Kaycee Raczka hit a bucket. Brennan hit a foul shot before Raczka, the highly regarded post player, rang up a bucket inside and a triple, pushing the Miners to a 46-42 lead.

Staying composed, Marian came right back with a game-winning rally. It started when Tikhtova buried a trey to bring Marian to within a bucket at 46-45. And when Frankie Martinelli scraped her way inside for a basket Marian led 47-45.

Once again the Miners responded with Raczka hitting the back end of a two-shot foul try to tie the game, 47-47, with just 36 ticks remaining.

But then Pugh got a game-winning bucket thanks to Martinelli, who found the guard breaking free inside.

“This was Minersville on their home floor. We took their best punch in the first half,” Fritz allowed. “We were a little lethargic. You know (Carly) Minchhoff didn’t get off to a good start; Frankie Martinelli not at 100-percent. So some of our young kids had to step up.”

And Pugh answered the bell.

TOPSY-TURVY

... The game had its moments with a big crowd. Marian couldn’t find the door to open early, and Minersville was soaring at full speed. It bolted out to a 13-6 lead, and when it put the pedal down to take a 27-14 lead with 3:15 to play in the first half, it was a great sign.

GAMERS

... Pugh was nothing short of sensational. For a freshmen, she plays way above that level. Junior Carley Hasara poured in 11 points. Minchhoff finished with 11 points. Martinelli was coming off illness and she was finally cleared to play Friday afternoon.

MARIAN

Pugh 6-2-2-14, Martinelli 0-0-0-0, Fritz 3-0-0-6, Minchhoff 4-3-3-11, Tikhtova 2-0-0-5, Hasara 4-1-1-11, O. Thomas 1-0-0-2. TOTALS: 20-6-6-49.

MINERSVILLE

Conti 3-0-2-8, Brennan 4-4-6-14, Kopinetz 3-0-2-8, Castle 3-0-0-6, Boom 0-0-0-0, Raczka 4-2-4-11. TOTALS: 18-6-14-47.

Marian 10 14 11 14 - 49

Minersville 13 18 4 12 - 47

Three-pointers: Marian – Hasara 2, Tikhtova 1. Minersville – Conti 2, Brennan 2, Kopinetz 2, Raczka 1.