POTTSVILLE — Forty.

That was the magic number North Schuylkill girls basketball coach Rich Wetzel stressed at halftime Saturday as his team struggled against Tamaqua inside Martz Hall.

Wetzel challenged the Lady Spartans to hold the Blue Raiders to 40 points or fewer if they wanted to extend their season in the District 11 Class 4A playoffs.

North Schuylkill responded with a second-half comeback, rallying from a 14-point deficit — 26-12 with less than two minutes left in the first half — to earn a 46-40 victory and advance to the semifinals.

The Spartans will face Blue Mountain at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Martz Hall, one win away from playing for a district title.

Senior Mya Conti scored 20 points, and junior Gianna Capone added 10 as North Schuylkill cut the deficit to 29-21 by halftime. The Spartans then raised their intensity and took control after the break.

“I wrote a number on the board – 40,” Wetzel said. “I said if they get anymore they will have (the win).”

Tamaqua appeared in control early. Sophomore Millie Black scored 12 of her team’s first 18 points, including 10 in the second quarter, to help build a 26-12 lead with 2:11 left in the half.

“We just had that lead, and we looked very (promising),” Tamaqua coach Erika Davis said.

Even after Kendle Miller hit a 3-pointer to give Tamaqua a 29-21 advantage, North Schuylkill stayed within reach.

“We always pick a number at half,” Wetzel said of his team’s defensive focus.

The Spartans’ defense took over in the third quarter. Tamaqua went scoreless from the field and managed just three points.

“We didn’t have any adjustments to make because of how well we played in the first half,” Davis said. “We turned the ball over and weren’t as aggressive on offense.”

North Schuylkill capitalized.

Capone hit a 3-pointer, Conti added two from beyond the arc during a 10-point quarter, and Ella Digris knocked down a trey as the Spartans built a 36-32 lead entering the fourth.

The Spartans forced 12 turnovers, including eight in the third quarter, and focused their defense on Millie Black.

“We had a big talk at halftime; she’s a tremendous rebounder,” Wetzel said.

Black scored six points in the fourth to keep Tamaqua close, but North Schuylkill controlled the tempo.

The Spartans attempted just two field goals in the final quarter, but converted key free throws, including three from Conti, to seal the win.

Wetzel said his team handled the ball better late, pointing to a loss at Tamaqua on Jan. 9 as a lesson.

“Yes, (we protected the ball better), we lost to them last time up (at their place),” he said.

BY THE NUMBERS ... Tamaqua shot 11-for-19 in the first half, but just 4-for-19 after the break. North Schuylkill shot 9-for-22 in the first half, and 8-for-15 in the second. The Blue Raiders held a 27-16 rebounding advantage but committed 21 turnovers, including 12 in the second half.

SENIOR LEADERS ... Davis praised her seniors — Ceanna Gormley, Leah Black, Aliyaah Joseph-Diaz, Kendle Miller and Makenna Ellington. “It’s always tough to lose your seniors; they were such a big part of this (program),” Davis said.

NORTH SCHUYLKILL

Selgrade 1-3-4-5, Conti 7-3-4-20, Urbanowicz 1-0-0-2, Capone 4-0-1-10, Balicki 0-0-0-0, Stitzer, Ja 3-0-0-6, Digris 1-0-0-3. TOTALS: 17-6-9-46.

TAMAQUA

Osenbach 0-0-0-0, M. Black 8-2-6-18, Ellington 0-0-0-0, Bamford 0-0-0-0, Ligenza 3-2-2-8, Miller 3-1-2-10, L. Black 0-2-2-2, Gormley 1-0-0-2. TOTALS: 15-7-12-40.

N. Schuylkill 8 13 16 9 - 46

Tamaqua 9 20 3 8 - 40

Three-pointers: North Schuylkill - Conti 3, Capone 2, Digris 1; Tamaqua - Miller 3.

Records: Tamaqua (16-8); North Schuylkill (16-7).