Don’t look now, but there’s a new contender pushing its way into the Schuylkill Girls’ Basketball League Division I race.

Schuylkill Haven delivered a gritty performance Monday night, holding off Tamaqua for a 39-35 victory to move into a tie with North Schuylkill atop the division. The Hurricanes stayed composed down the stretch and made the plays they needed over the final two minutes.

Tamaqua threatened repeatedly, but couldn’t overcome costly turnovers. The Blue Raiders briefly took the lead when Leah Black completed a three-point play for a 31-30 edge with 1:32 remaining.

Audrey Hutchinson answered with a jumper from the foul-line extended to put Haven back in front. Moments later, McKenna Runkle — who led all scorers with 19 points — calmly knocked down two free throws with 1:33 left for a 34-31 lead.

Tamaqua responded when Kendall Miller buried a 3-pointer after Millie Black hit a free throw. Miller’s trey gave the Raiders a 35-34 advantage with 52 seconds left, but it proved to be their final lead.

Runkle converted two more free throws with 48 seconds remaining, and Tamaqua unraveled. Kylie Siket sealed the win with two foul shots to make it 38-35 with 24 seconds left, then added the final free throw with six seconds remaining.

“We had to rebound well and keep Lauren (Ligenza) in check, which I thought we did very well,” Haven coach Tony Sanders said.

The plan worked. Ligenza was held to a season-low seven points, while Miller was the lone Raider in double figures with 15. Haven showed balance, led by Runkle’s 19 points and 12 rebounds. Hutchinson added 10 points and six rebounds.

“It was not good the way they opened up, and they kept the tone early,” Tamaqua coach Erika Davis said following her team’s struggles after a big Friday win over North Schuylkill. “We played like a game of a letdown after we had a big win.”

Haven jumped out to a 10-4 lead and took a 12-9 advantage after one quarter. Tamaqua briefly found momentum early in the second quarter, getting six quick points from Miller to go ahead 15-12. Runkle answered by scoring all six points during a run that put Haven back in front, 18-15.

Tamaqua regained control in the third quarter. Miller hit a 3-pointer and a layup, and Ligenza added a putback to give the Raiders a 22-21 lead. Haven struggled offensively in the period, managing just three points on a Runkle 3-pointer.

The fourth quarter turned chaotic. Haven surged ahead 26-22 before Tamaqua responded. Ceanna Gormley and Millie Black both helped the Raiders take a 28-26 lead with 5:05 to play, but the Hurricanes stayed poised.

Haven did not commit a turnover over the final two minutes.

“We told them if they turn the ball over, we’ve got to make them pay for it,” Sanders said.

Turnovers told the story. Tamaqua committed 10 in the fourth quarter, including four in the final five minutes.

“It was our worst game of basketball,” Davis said. “You know, we’ve run out of things to say — don’t turn the ball over — it was all the basic stuff.”

Tamaqua now finds itself chasing a league playoff spot, a familiar position from last season.

NOT VERY GOOD ... Tamaqua failed to get a clutch play late when it needed one most.

TOP FLIGHT ... Haven junior McKenna Runkle continued to grind, pulling down two key rebounds late.

KUDOS ... Tamaqua’s Ceanna Gormley provided a spark off the bench with key rebounds. The same goes for Haven’s Ava Terefenko, who stayed steady during crunch time.

COUNTING UP ... Tamaqua shot 12-for-48 and committed 24 turnovers. Haven shot 15-for-47 with 13 turnovers.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

Hutchinson 5-0-0-10, Siket 1-1-2-3, Wade 0-0-0-0, Runkle 6-6-6-19, Terefencko 3-1-6-7, Strenkoski 0-0-0-0, Bayer 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 15-8-14-39.

TAMAQUA

M. Black 2-2-2-6, Ellington 0-0-4-0, Ligenza 3-1-2-7, Bamford 0-0-0-0, Miller 5-2-4-15, L. Black 1-2-3-4, Gormley 1-1-2-3. TOTALS: 12-8-17-35.

Schuylkill Haven 12 6 3 18 - 39

Tamaqua 9 6 7 13 - 35

Three-pointers: Tamaqua - Miller 3; Schuylkill Haven - Runkle 1.

Records: Tamaqua (10-4; 5-3); Schuylkill Haven (10-4; 7-1).