(Editor’s Note - The Times News has historically done feature stories on basketball players who reach the 1,000-point mark in their career. Palmerton’s Matt Machalik achieved the milestone late in the 2022-23 basketball season. This story highlights that accomplishment)

When you talk about talented high school athletes in the area, the name of Palmerton’s Matt Machalik is at the top of the list.

On Feb. 25, Machalik scored his 1,000th career basketball point on a breakaway layup. The play happened during a District 11 playoff win against Panther Valley. Machalik went on to finish the year with 1,048 points, helping the Blue Bombers to a successful 20-8 record.

The basketball achievement followed on the heels of a highly successful fall sports season when - as the Palmerton quarterback - he put up incredible numbers and earned the Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Football Player of the year award.

Machalik’s talent on the gridiron - where he is receiving Division 1 looks - hasn’t prevented him from excelling on the hardwood as well,

Machalik has improved his basketball skills from year-to-year. As a freshman, he scored 137 points, averaging seven points a game during a 15-game COVID-shortened season.

While a lot of freshmen would have been satisfied just getting varsity playing time, Machalik looked back at that campaign and figured out where he needed to improve.

“I got in the weight room and trained harder so I could compete against bigger and older players,” he said. “I’m a physical player in both sports so I needed to get stronger.”

His training resulted in an obvious improvement - especially offensively. As a sophomore, Machalik scored 452 points, averaging nearly 17 points a game. Last winter, as a junior, he scored another 459 points while maintaining the same lofty scoring average.

To describe his style of play on the court, one might say he brings a football mentality to the game of basketball. Machalik likes to drive the lane like he is running through the defensive line on a quarterback keeper.

“I’m always aggressive and that’s what gives me confidence,” he said, “If we’re losing, I use my confidence to try and take over a game.”

During this past season, his highlight games included 37 points against Moravian Academy, 33 against Catasauqua and five other games where he scored 20 points or more. The 6-1, 190-pound incoming senior is far from a one dimensional player, however. When defenses double and triple team him, he finds the open teammate, leading to solid assist numbers. In addition, he was the team leader in steals per game.

“I tried not to think about scoring 1,000 points,” he said. “I’m all about our team winning.”

Blue Bomber coach Ken Termini has enjoyed following the progress of his two-time captain since his freshman season.

“I was immediately impressed, not only with Matt’s athleticism, but with his poise. He moves on to the next play if the one before it doesn’t work. Since then, he’s become a superstar in two sports because of his work ethic and skills,” said Termini. “On the court, he has an ability to create space for his shot. He also makes his teammates better, and he’s very coachable.”

Machalik - who has a Times News/LVHN Basketball Player of the Year award as a sophomore to go along with his football award as a junior - said he looks at the games he plays as building lifetime memories.

“We don’t’ get our high school years back,” he said. “After a good or a bad day in school, I love to get under the Friday night lights for football and in the winter, I can’t wait to get to the gym to play another basketball game.”

Machalik is currently being recruited by Lehigh and Lafayette, among other schools, to play quarterback at the next level. But that doesn’t mean he’s ignoring his senior basketball season.

While passing the 1,500 career point mark is definitely within range, that’s not what Machalik is thinking about.

“Personal goals are great, but what I really want to do is help set our team sites on a league and district championship,” he said. ‘We made it into the semifinals in leagues and districts this past season.

“I want to win both this coming season for our school, our community, and for our great fans who have supported us. If we can do that, then my career will be complete.”