TOWER CITY — Minersville used its veteran offense to win 67-58 on the road at Williams Valley on Monday.
First-year coach Chris George admitted how much he admires his veteran Butlin Miners (7-1; 5-1), who held off Williams Valley (4-4; 3-3) in the second half and built a six-point lead.
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“Usually our goal is to get some shots early, and we try not to get complacent,” Minersville head coach Chris George said. “It’s no secret that we’re shooting a lot of 3s, so we’re confident in that.”
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Williams Valley’s Evan Achenbach (11) dribbles the ball during Williams Valley’s home game against Minersville on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (Matthew Perscale/Multimedia Editor)
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Williams Valley’s Chris Dickerson (4) dribbles the ball as Williams Valley hosts Minersville on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (Matthew Perscale/Multimedia Editor)
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Williams Valley’s Chris Dickerson (4) dribbles the ball as Williams Valley hosts Minersville on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (Matthew Perscale/Multimedia Editor)
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Williams Valley’s Bryce Zilinski (15) high-fives Williams Valley’s Chris Dickerson (4) during a game against Minersville on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/Multimedia Editor)
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Williams Valley’s Evan Achenbach (11) dribbles the ball during Williams Valley’s home game against Minersville on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (Matthew Perscale/Multimedia Editor)
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View Full Photo Gallery: Minersville Boys Basketball Team Defeats Williams Valley
Shazier Bethea hit some 3-pointers early and led Minersville with 21 points, while Chase Zimerofsky and Jordan Bowers each scored 17 points.
“It was a team effort, everybody was filling in, getting open and making shots,” Bethea said. “It’s good when we can get more shots and it’s good when I can rebound and feed our shooters.”
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Bethea hit a three-pointer and Bowles made a layup. With two minutes left in the first quarter, the team led 12-10. Shortly after, another 3-pointer by Bethea gave the Fighting Miners a 15-10 lead.
“I can stretch the floor and get around defenders and get to the basket or get the ball to shooters, but you can’t guard all of us,” Bethea said. “It helps us to have more experience with each other.”
At the end of the first quarter, Bethea scored 10 points and Minersville led 17-13.
Williams Valley’s Gabe Rodriguez hit a three-pointer to make it 25-22 with 2 minutes left in the first half. Evan Achenbach then hit a three-pointer to bring the score to 25-25.
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Zimmerowski hit a three-pointer with 52 seconds left in the half to lead 28-25.
“We have four starters from last year’s team, so the foundation is solid and Shazier (Bethea) is probably the best player in the league,” George said. “He calmed us down and made a big difference.”
Rodriguez hit two 3-pointers early in the second half to cut the Vikings’ lead to 33-31, then tied it at 35-35.
“It’s great to be tested in a gym like this on a night when we didn’t shoot well early,” George said. “That’s what we need if we’re going to perform in the league or regionals.”
Bowles hit a 3-pointer to give Minersville a 38-35 lead and then added a 3-pointer to give the Fighting Miners a 43-38 lead. Zimmerowski hit a three-pointer and led 47-40 at the end of the third quarter.
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“They got a little bit ahead of us and then we got the hang of it and started scoring again,” Bethea said. “We’re getting closer every day.”
The game got intense in the fourth quarter as Minersville committed nine shooting fouls and made 11 free throws, while Bethea hit another three-pointer and scored seven points.
Achenbach added six points and Chris Dixon and Rodriguez each added three for Williams Valley in the fourth quarter.
Bowles hit a three-pointer and scored 7 points at the end of the fourth quarter to win 67-58.
Rodriguez led the Williams Valley offense with 17 points, Achenbach added 15 points and Bryce Zielinski added 11 points.
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Minersville 67 — Adams 0 0-0 0, Rogers 3 4-9 11, Zimmerowski 6 3-3 17, Fesler 0 0-0 0, Bethea 7 3-6 21, McGrath 0 0-0 0, Seddon 0 0-0 0, Pepin 0 0-0 0, Toth 0 0-0 0, Powers 5 4-4 17, Mellie 0 0-0 0, Plesnarski 0 1-2 1.
Williams Valley 58 — Rodriguez 6 0-0 17, Dixon 2 0-0 6, Lauterzahn 0 0-0 0, Achenbach 7 0-1 15, Kondibowski 3 0-0 8, Zielinski 5 0-1 11, Esh 0 0-0 0, K. Zielinski 1 0-0 2, Dixon 0 0-0 0.
