POTTSVILLE — It felt like quicksand for the Marian girls basketball team Saturday in the opening round of the Schuylkill League girls basketball tournament.

North Schuylkill’s pressure and quickness kept the Fillies on their heels from the opening tip until the final horn at the Mecca. It was not what Marian had hoped for, as the Spartans swarmed from every angle in a 49-31 loss.

Marian head coach Jeff Onushco’s pregame concerns became reality for his young team.

“I’m worried how our team is going to react being here on this stage, with such a younger team,” he said.

North Schuylkill, a program steeped in tradition, once again looked at home in February at the Mecca, where league championships have been the norm for decades.

“We just aren’t here to win games, our goal has always been to win the Schuylkill League championship,” said Rich Wetzel, who continues to guide the Spartans.

Marian never seriously threatened.

The Fillies were rattled early by youthful jitters, and their decision-making suffered under constant pressure.

North Schuylkill opened cold from the floor, misfiring on several early shots before Mya Conti scored the game’s first basket. It was the first of 21 points for the elusive senior, the game’s leading scorer.

The Spartans shot just 4-for-16 early, but their full-court pressure proved decisive.

Marian committed 12 turnovers in the first quarter and managed only six shot attempts as the pressure steadily wore them down.

“The hardest thing this year for this team was to get that (every game),” Wetzel said of his defensive pressure.

When North Schuylkill failed to generate offense from defense, he said, the Spartans struggled. When the pressure was there, the results followed.

That pressure led to an 11-0 run that felt overwhelming at times. Conti, Monica Selgrade and Gina Capone helped fuel the surge.

Capone attacked the basket and knocked down step-back 3-pointers, finishing with 18 points. Selgrade added 12.

Selgrade scored six points during the run as North Schuylkill built a 29-14 halftime lead with 2:42 remaining. Marian settled down slightly in the second quarter, but never found a consistent offensive rhythm.

“You can’t simulate that pressure in practice,” Onushco said. “With the big floor and the (sightlines), unless you played here in a (playoff) game, it’s something tough to (adjust) and get used to.”

Marian tried to get its one-two scoring punch going, but Addy Marek and DeAnna Pugh were closely guarded throughout. The Fillies struggled to counter North Schuylkill’s relentless defense.

Wetzel’s game plan worked as the Spartans advanced to Tuesday’s semifinal against Lourdes.

QUOTABLE I ... “The hardest thing this year with this team was to get that every game,” North Schuylkill coach Wetzel said of his defensive pressure.

TOUGH AFTERNOON ... Marian committed 19 turnovers in the first half, and attempted just 18 shots. North Schuylkill scored 10 points off those turnovers, often with Conti or Selgrade finishing in transition.

BEEN THERE ... The Spartans are seeking their seventh straight trip to the league finals but must get past Lourdes (21-1). North Schuylkill has lost the past two championship games — to Blue Mountain in 2023 and Schuylkill Haven last season.

BEATING PRESSURE ... The textbook answer to beating a full-court press is getting the ball to the middle of the floor. Too many teams bring the ball up the sideline, where the boundary becomes an extra defender. Basics matter.

MARIAN

Marek 4-0-0-9, Pugh 3-1-2-8, Minzola 1-6-10-8, Knock 1-0-0-3, Hannis-Miskar 1-0-0-3, Kwon 0-0-0-0, Bushati 0-0-0-0, Decosmo 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 10-7-12-31.

NORTH SCHUYLKILL

Conti 9-2-3-21, Capone 5-2-4-15, Selgrade 6-0-1-12, Gawrylik 0-1-2-1, Urbanowicz 0-0-0-0, Stitzer 0-0-0-0, Digris 0-0-0-0, Rose 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 19-5-10-49.

Marian 6 8 8 9 - 31

North Schuylkill 9 20 12 8 - 49

Three-pointers: Marian - Pugh 2, Marek 1, Hannis-Marek; North Schuylkill - Capone 3, Conti 1.