Defense has been the mantra that’s led the Lehighton girls basketball team to a 23-win season.

But on Saturday afternoon, Blue Mountain turned the tables on the Indians.

With a relentless man defense that forced Lehighton to work hard for every shot, the eighth-seeded Eagles upset the top-ranked Tribe for a 49-34 win in a District 11 Class 4A quarterfinal game played in Palmerton.

There was plenty of evidence for the Blue Mountain victory.

After Leah Uyvari’s running one-hander and Ryleigh Trotman’s jump shot gave the Tribe a 4-0 lead, Lehighton scored but one more basket in the first period — a layup by Ava Serfass with 2:25 left to go. Meanwhile, on baskets by Delaney Walborn, Karley Koch and Callie Peel, the Eagles built a 19-11 advantage.

The second period proved to be no better for the Indians, as they shot just 20 percent, scoring three buckets on two jumpers by Olivia Serfass and a three-pointer by Uyvari.

As both defenses shut off passing lanes and contested every shot, eight turnovers were forced in the eight-minute session that resulted in a total of 12 points put on the scoreboard before the intermission.

“We tried to get the ball inside,” said Lehighton head coach Nadia Gauronsky, “and we did, but we didn’t finish and missed too many layups.”

Uyvari heaved up a three-quarter court prayer that found the bottom of the net at the second-period buzzer, bringing the Maroon and White fans to their feet and kept Blue Mountain’s leading margin to six points.

Unfortunately for Lehighton, the bomb shot was not a momentum changer in the second half.

The Tribe went scoreless in the third period until Uyvari’s scoop shot deuce in the paint at the five-minute mark.

With the deficit still at six, Blue Mountain gradually lengthened its lead to 11 (33-22) at the end of the session.

Eagles mentor Rose Carper was ecstatic about her team’s performance.

“We’re not a high scoring team, so we focus on playing good defense and believing that the offense will come,” she said. “When they were able to close the gap, we didn’t panic.

“Our players, with our senior leadership, are prepared for such situations. We also felt that our team speed helped us do what we do best, and that is penetrate and go hard to the basket.”

At the start of the fourth period, Lehighton scored the first three baskets and put up full-court pressure on the Eagles offense. Uyvari began the rally with a right-handed hook shot and a layup. Olivia Serfass then scored on a driving layup with 5:23 left to play.

Trailing 33-28, that would end up being the closest Lehighton would get. The Eagles scored 16 of the game’s last 22 points, half of them by Peel who led all scorers with 24 points.

Gauronsky, as would be expected, was at a loss for words with the ending of her team’s great season, which was highlighted by a Colonial League championship.

“It wasn’t our day,” she said. “We played hard, but Blue Mountain played better. We thought we could grab the momentum in the second half, but it just wasn’t to be.”

She reflected upon her team’s accomplishments, and praised three seniors who were the foundation of the Tribe’s terrific season.

“Leah Uyvari showed tremendous growth in her game. She gained the courage to play her position and the confidence to play it well.

“Olivia Serfass is one of the most intelligent basketball players I have ever coached. She loves the game. She was like a pseudo-coach for our team, checking the schedule and texting me about how we were going to play upcoming opponents.

“Ryleigh Trotman, like Leah, grew into a really good player. She averaged a double-double this season. She was fearless on the court, and a big reason we beat Northwestern the third time we played them.”

PITCHING A TENT ... Blue Mountain’s Peel planted her stakes at the free-throw line in the final 90 seconds of the game. Five times she was fouled in the bonus, and ended up making eight of her 10 shots.

RISING STARS ... Lehighton improved in each of the last three seasons. They went from 12-9 to 16-6 to 23-3.

BLUE MOUNTAIN

Peel 6-10-12-24, 2-5-7-10, Koch 3-0-3-6, Walborn 2-0-0-5, Fleagle 2-0-0-4, Canfield 0-0-0-0, Leonard 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 15-15-21-49.

LEHIGHTON

O. Serfass 4-4-6-12, Uyvari 5-1-3- 12, A. Serfass 3-0-0-6, Trotman 2-0-0-4, S. Serfass 0-0-0-0, Parlman 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 14-5-9-34.

Blue Mountain 19 5 9 16 - 49

Lehighton 11 7 4 12 - 34

Three-pointers; Blue Mountain - Peel 2, Place 1, Walborn 1; Lehighton - Uyvari 1.

Records: Blue Mountain (13-11); Lehighton (23-3).