CATASAUQUA - Pressure.

Postseason play presents just that as teams are under pressure to perform in order to advance.

But it was pressure that fittingly helped ease the duress of the nervous moments on Tuesday night for Palmerton in its District 11 3A semifinal matchup with Executive Education Academy Charter.

The No. 1 seeded Bombers (22-2) used their pressure defense, which has been the key to their success all season, to put together consecutive runs in the second half to edge the Lady Raptors 48-46, and advance to the District 11/District 12 subregional championship.

With Pine Grove losing to MaST Community Charter, and Palmerton defeating Executive, the Bombers secured the District 11 Class 3A title, its first district championship for the girls’ basketball program since 1997.

“This was one of our goals coming into the season, and then obviously coming into this tournament,” said Palmerton head coach Dan Beck. “All the credit needs to go to our girls. They put the time in, working hard in the weight room, getting shots up and working on their game in the offseason. I’m just so happy for them. It’s great for our program, and great for our community, who is passionate about basketball.”

Through the first three quarters, Executive was in control and led after each frame, but the Lady Raptors were especially impressive in the first half. Executive’s zone defense stifled the Bombers as they shot just 7-for-29 from the field, and 3-for-10 from beyond the arc in the first half.

Palmerton was not getting quality shot opportunities during that stretch, and 1,000-point scorer Brianna Moore was held scoreless for the majority of the first half.

Executive looked to be pulling away late in the second quarter, leading 21-12, but that’s when Beck would make a key adjustment, applying pressure with the Bombers’ 2-2-1 three-quarter court press. The result was a 6-0 run to end the first half - all transition buckets off turnovers -to get Palmerton within three heading into the half.

“I was hesitant to press them, because with their speed and athleticism, I thought they would be able to do well against the pressure,” said Beck.

“But playing pressure defense is what got us here, and it has worked for us all season, and we were struggling offensively, so we made the change.”

Trailing by four going into the fourth quarter, the Bombers pressure once again got their offense going. Back-to-back steals led to Moore transition deuces to tie the game at 34-34, and after a bucket from Executive would put the Raptors back on top, a three from the left corner by Raegan Nemeth gave Palmerton its first lead (37-36) since it led 8-7 in the first quarter.

Two more triples - one at the 2:40 mark and another at the 2:01 mark by Nemeth - would help extend the lead to seven, and Palmerton was able hold off Executive the rest of the way to edge the Lady Raptors for the two-point victory.

“I just got hot there late in the game. After I hit that one late in the third quarter, I felt confident and just kept shooting,” said Nemeth.

“My teammates were able to find me, and I was able to hit some big shots.”

CALMING INFLUENCE

... Palmerton point guard Bethie Morgan led the Bombers in scoring with 16 points, and kept them in it during the first half as they struggled to make shots, scoring 13 of Palmerton’s 18 first-half points.

HEATING UP

... Nemeth was unconscious from beyond the arc late in the game. She hit five three-pointers in the game and three in the fourth quarter.

NEXT UP

... Palmerton will take on the No. 2 seed MaST Community Charter out of District 12 in what will be a subregional championship. That game will be played at 7 p.m. on Friday at a site to be announced.

PALMERTON

Frantz 0-0-0-0, Barry 0-0-0-0, Matsko 1-0-0-2, Balliet 0-0-0-0, Nemeth 5-0-0-15, Morgan 6-2-4-16, Moore 6-2-4-15. TOTALS: 18-4-8-48.

EXECUTIVE

Riggins 4-0-0-9, Martinez 1-0-0-2, Madrid 1-2-2-4, Pollard 3-2-5-8, Urena 0-0-0-0, Beatty 0-0-0-0, Waiters 6-4-6-17, Carey 2-1-2-6. TOTALS: 17-9-15-47.

Palmerton 8 10 12 18 - 48

Executive 11 10 13 12 - 46

Three-pointers: Palmerton - Nemeth 5, Morgan 2, Moore 1; Executive - Riggins 1, Waiters 1, Carey 1.