The Tamaqua boys’ basketball season holds a lot of promise.

The Blue Raiders are still far from mid-season form, but that hasn’t stopped them from winning their first two games by double digits.

On Monday, Tamaqua defeated Pottsville Nativity, 73-61.

“We not right just yet,” said Tamaqua coach Jim Barron. “Obviously we didn’t protect the ball the way I hoped we would. And we’re short one of our guards (Brayden Knoblauch is out with a football injury), but overall, yes I’m pleased.”

How can’t Barron be pleased with four of his five starters in double-digits, a solid job of rebounding and a defense that forced the Hilltoppers into 21 turnovers.

Thad Zuber’s 22-point outing led the scoring parade for the Raiders. Michael Bonetsky checked in with 15 points, Lucas Gregoire hit for 14 and Casey Rother had himself a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

“Anytime you get that type of balance, it is going to put a lot of pressure on the other team,” said Barron.

Tamaqua was clinging to a 17-15 lead early in the second quarter before closing the half with a 15-8 run to create some seperation.

“They sat in that zone. They wanted to take away our guards,” said Barron. “Once we figured how to make some penetration into the middle we dumped the ball inside which loosened things up.”

Zuber had a big second quarter dropping in 10 points, including a pair of treys. Rother sank four points and Bonetsky added two to kick start the offense.

Nativity was still within reach late in the third quarter, trailing 46-38 with 2:43 to play in the session. But Tamaqua closed with a flurry as Gabe Gregoire recycled a missed shot, Bonetsky sliced to the basket for a deuce, and Zuber and Lucas Gregoire hit shots to make it 55-42.

Tamaqua secured the victory by hitting 16 of 24 free throws in the final quarter.

THE FIGURES

… Tamaqua shot 21-for-51, but its percentage could have been much better as 20 of the misses were from short range. Nativity wound up shooting 25-for-48. Tams had the rebounding edge 36-28. The Blue Raiders committed 19 turnovers, but only five in the second half. Lucas Gregoire shot a sizzling 10-for-10 from the foul line.

FOULED UP

… Nativity had four players foul out, while also having four players hit four double figures led by Casian Flowers with 15.

JV WIN

… Tamaqua claimed a 52-37 win in the opener led by Devon Zehner’s 15 points and Wesley Griffin’s 15.

NATIVITY

Flowers 6-2-3-15, Latimer 4-2-6-10, Walker 3-0-0-10, Muldrow 4-2-3-10, Brennan 3-0-0-8, Burke 2-0-0-5, Bilansky 1-0-0-3, Kuperavage 1-0-0-3, DiNicola 0-0-0-0. Totals 25-7-15-61.

TAMAQUA

Zuber 7-4-6-22, L. Gregoire 2-10-10-14, Bonetsky 2-8-12-13, Rother 5-3-4-13, Boyle 2-0-0-5, G. Gregoire 2-0-0-4, Kurek 0-2-4-2, Stanche 0-0-0-0, Griffin 0-0-0-0. Totals 21-25-36-73.

Nativity 9 14 19 19 – 61

Tamaqua 15 17 23 18 - 73

Three-pointers: Nativity - Brennan 2, Flowers 1, Walker 1, Burke 1, Bilansky 1, Kuperavage 1; Tamaqua - Zuber 4, Bonetsky 2, Boyle 1.