POTTSVILLE – No pressure. No nerves.

Just basketball.

That’s what the 44th Annual Senior Charity Bowl on Friday night was all about.

With some players taking the court for what might be the final time, the opportunity to suit up with old teammates – and former rivals – made the contest about much more than the final scores of the girls’ and boys’ games at Martz Hall between the North and South squads.

“It’s great, because we played against these girls for four years, and finally we come together,” said Marian’s Reese Erbe.

Erbe, along with fellow Fillies’ standout Gianna Agosti, Tamaqua’s Kirstin Jones and Panther Valley’s Christina Dacey, helped the North team pick up a 51-35 victory over the South.

Erbe finished with three points, while Dacey and Jones tallied two points apiece.

“We knew it was for fun, so we were really excited,” said Jones. “We just went out and played our best, since we knew it would be our last.”

Jones was the only senior on the Blue Raiders’ this season. After a deep run in the District 11 playoffs this season, Jones hopes the team’s underclassmen keep working hard to have even more success next year.

“I just hope they keep up their hard work and keep playing the way they do,” Jones said. “They’ll get so much better, and I hope they get to achieve that.”

Erbe relished the chance to play with Agosti one more time.

“It was great to play with Gianna again,” said Erbe. “We got one more shot at it, because obviously our season didn’t end the way we wanted it to (with a loss to Minersville in the District 11 playoffs).

“So one more chance with her, being my best friend, was great.”

While Dacey didn’t have any teammates, she did have her head coach, Panther Valley mentor William ‘Dapper’ Lynn, on the sideline.

“To have my high school coach be my coach meant a lot to me,” said Dacey. “I’ve played against these girls and they’re all great players. I’ve played with some of them on various AAU teams, so it’s just a nice atmosphere to be able to be on the court with them one last time.”

Lynn enjoyed being able to coach Dacey – and players from Tamaqua, Marian, Minersville, Shenandoah Valley, North Schuylkill and Mahanoy Area.

“They only get here because of hard work,” said Lynn. “These girls are the best-of the-best in the Schuylkill League. You gotta work at it.”

In the boys’ game, the South topped the North 84-72.

Panther Valley’s Tristan Blasko scored 14 points for the North, while Panthers’ teammates Ron Distler added 12 and Allen Perez seven. Tamaqua’s Thad Zuber recorded seven points and Gabe Gregoire six.

Marian’s Noah Stauffer scored two points.

“It’s and honor, and these guys are great. The guys from Shenandoah, North Schuylkill, all of them, they’re just great guys,” said Distler.

“There were a bunch of stars playing for both sides,” added Blasko, who capped the night with a big dunk. “Playing them all season, we know what they can do. It was so much fun playing with everyone.”

After leading Panther Valley to a district title game and a trip to the state playoffs, Panthers’ head coach Pat Crampsie enjoyed being a member of the North’s coaching staff, and seeing three of his players take the court together one time.

“It was a lot of fun, especially after a nice year,” said Crampsie. “I think it makes it that much more fun. I was happy for these three guys. They were excited about it. They played hard, they competed. Guys were out there making plays, and it was a real good time, a real fun night.”

Zuber and Gregoire, who helped Tamaqua reach the state playoffs this season, echoed that sentiment.

“It’s tons of fun,” said Zuber. “Playing with all these guys, that you play with in high school, all four years, you know these guys, you get to know them better, but you get to know them so much better just playing in this game. It was just a ton of fun.”

And a moment they’ll never forget.

“It was a great experience for everyone to play together one last time,” said Gregoire. “It was just really fun.”

FROM DOWNTOWN … The second half of the girls’ game started with the North’s Sam Shinkus (North Schuylkill) burying a 3 that would have made Golden State Warriors’ star Steph Curry proud. Players from both teams took their turn shooting deep threes throughout the final half.

STAND BACK … While the girls’ contest ended with a barrage of three-pointers, the boys’ game concluded with players from both teams taking flight and (mostly) throwing down some impressive dunks.