Minersville Boys Basketball Upset in District 3A Semifinals

Battlin' Miners suffer second loss of season to Executive Education, will face Catasauqua in consolation round

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Minersville Battlin' Miners, who entered the District 11 Class 3A semifinals with a 23-1 record, were upset by Executive Education 59-49. The loss was Minersville's second of the season, with their only previous defeat coming back on December 11. Despite the setback, the Battlin' Miners will have a chance at redemption in the Class 3A consolation round against Catasauqua on Saturday.

Why it matters

Minersville was the top seed in the District 3A tournament and had been dominant throughout the regular season, winning the Schuylkill League championship. The upset loss to Executive Education, a team with a 13-6 record, was a surprising result and raises questions about whether the Battlin' Miners can rebound and secure a spot in the state playoffs.

The details

Minersville jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, but Executive Education battled back and took an 8-6 advantage in the first quarter. The Raptors then went on a 9-0 run in the second quarter to build a double-digit lead that they would not relinquish. Minersville struggled shooting the ball, making just 3-of-24 three-pointers, and was unable to mount a serious comeback despite outscoring Executive Education 18-14 in the fourth quarter.

  • Minersville's last loss came on December 11, 2025 in a 62-51 defeat to Pottsville.
  • The District 11 Class 3A semifinal matchup between Minersville and Executive Education took place on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.
  • Minersville will face Catasauqua in the Class 3A consolation round on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

The players

Chris George

Head coach of the Minersville Battlin' Miners.

Ray Barbosa

Head coach of the Executive Education Raptors, a former standout at William Allen High School and college player at James Madison and UMBC.

Jordan Bowers

All-Schuylkill League first team selection who led Minersville with 17 points in the loss.

Eshaan Tung

Junior guard for Executive Education who scored a team-high 17 points in the win.

Cameron Micheal

Freshman guard for Executive Education who scored 16 points in the semifinal victory.

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What they’re saying

“We said to the team tonight, like, go home and let this one hurt a little bit because you haven't had this feeling for a little while. We'll find out what we're made of character-wise.”

— Chris George, Head Coach, Minersville Battlin' Miners (republicanherald.com)

“I think that's our luxury for being independent. When the snow hit, we actually lost a couple of games. But my mindset was, let's play those guys because we're in the playoffs already. We had 12 wins or 11 wins at the time. We just all wanted to get better at that point in the season. We didn't care if we won or lost. And I think, you know, those games that we played, I think, helped us tonight.”

— Ray Barbosa, Head Coach, Executive Education Raptors (republicanherald.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.