Palmerton got a taste last winter.

The Blue Bombers are looking for even more this year.

Palmerton ended a long postseason draught with a trip to the District 11 playoffs last season. After a quarterfinal exit, Bombers’ head coach Ken Termini is expecting the team to take another step forward this year.

“I think this group has high goals,” said Termini. “They’re aware of the fact that it’s been 20 years since we’ve had a team finish with a winning record here at Palmerton. It’s been 30 years since we’ve had a team win a league or district championship.

“They definitely have goals … but I think the guys want to do something that can make the town proud.”

A three-point loss to Pine Grove in the district quarterfinals ended Palmerton’s season a year ago. The Bombers have spent the time since making sure it doesn’t happen again.

“This group works pretty much at least 10 months a year on their game,” said Termini. “They were together over 60 times over the course of the summer to either workout, compete, go to camp, lift, do agility training.

“And we had really good turnout for those things, a very high percentage of guys, and a very high percentage of our best guys to set the tone, and have the leadership, that hopefully our younger players will be able to follow and grow from.”

Palmerton’s attack will be spearheaded by the return of its two leading scorers from a year ago, senior Nate Dougherty (16.17 points per game) and junior Justin Hosier (11.68 ppg).

Dougherty enters the season with 770 points, while Hosier has tallied 550.

Sophomore Kody Kratzer (5.78 ppg.), Senior Zach Silfies (1.52 ppg.) and junior Ryan King (1.00) all return after getting significant playing time a year ago.

Seth Young (junior), Josh Mooney (junior), Owen Buck (sophomore), Tyler Stuck (sophomore) and Tyler Christman (junior) are likely to see action off the bench, and will have to help offset the losses of two-year starters Ryan Yacone (7.78 ppg.) and Eric Baumgardt (4.48 ppg).

“We have guys, we grew together as a team, we grew together as individuals,” Termini said of the offseason work. “But there is a difference between summer league and winter, and you need to execute efficiently at a higher percentage. It just becomes that much more important once you get into the season. And that takes a level of not only knowledge and skill, but mental focus and discipline, and that’s where we continue to grow, like all clubs in November. We want to make sure we get there and do the right thing.”

The Bombers are hoping that means achieving their first winning season since 1999 and capturing the program’s first league or district title since 1989.

“Looking back on it now, it was a very successful season,” said Dougherty. “It’s something that Palmerton hasn’t accomplished in a very long time. So we’re really proud of that, but this year, we’re even more confident to do bigger and better things this year.

“Our goal this year is to win championships. We made districts last year. I think the only step now is to put a gold medal around our necks. And to do that, every night, we have to come out ready to win, not just compete.”