Palmerton started strong and finished strong in its Colonial League match-up with Northwestern on Tuesday.

An 18-2 first quarter run, along with a 19-9 fourth- quarter surge, helped the Bombers come away with a 54-36 win over the Tigers.

A hot-shooting start, coupled with active defense, got Palmerton (2-0) out to a significant advantage early on.

The Bombers started the game on a 12-0 run, with junior Matt Machalik scoring 10 points during the opening blitz.

Palmerton went on to force eight Tiger turnovers in the first, and shot an efficient 8-for-15 from the field, while Northwestern struggled, shooting just 1-for-10.

“We played really well in stretches tonight, especially in the first quarter to get out to that big lead, and then in the fourth quarter as well. I was proud of the way we also responded to some of Northwestern’s runs throughout the game. We showed resiliency and tenacity in answering all of their runs,” said Palmerton head coach Ken Termini. “Give Northwestern credit, though. They battled back and showed a lot of courage. But again, really proud of my kids. Every time they felt like they were able to get it close, we were able to make some shots and up the lead back to double digits.”

The Tigers (0-2) were able to close in on Palmerton in the third after chipping away at their deficit in the second quarter. This time around it was the Bombers who struggled to shoot the ball, going just 3-for-14 in the second, which helped Northwestern outscore Palmerton 11-9 in the frame. Gavin Nelson scored all 11 points for the Tigers in the quarter.

In the third came Northwestern’s big run of the game. Trailing 25-13 at the half, the Tigers started the third on a 7-0 run to cut the Palmerton lead to five (25-20). Two more points from Nelson, a triple by Cayden Fitch and a deuce to start the quarter from Del Tyler got Northwestern back in the game.

“When we executed our stuff well and we didn’t turn the ball over, we played pretty well and that is what got us back into the game in the second and third quarter. We just executed what we do well, and we were able to get some good looks,” said Northwestern head coach Corey Cesare. “But credit to Palmerton, they were able to get hot at times and score in bunches. That’s a good team. But we had some missed opportunities, some missed layups, turnovers, missed free throws, which are all things that are going to make it tough to beat a team the caliber of Palmerton.”

The Bombers responded to Northwestern’s run by going on a run of its own to go back up by 13 around the four-minute mark of the third. Northwestern once again battled back to end the quarter to trail by eight going into the fourth.

In the fourth, it was all Palmerton, as a 13-2 run gave it a commanding 48-29 lead midway through the frame. The run was capped off by a nifty behind-the-back pass in transition to a cutting Jacob Grammes on the left block, who was able to finish and was fouled, completing the three-point play, which put the game out of reach for the Tigers.

LEADERS

… Brayden Hosier led all scorers with 17 points for Palmerton, scoring six in the fourth. Machalik added 13 and Grammes chipped in with 10. Nelson led the Tigers with 13.

THE GLASS

… The Bombers dominated the boards on the night, out-rebounding the Tigers 31-19, including 14 offensive rebounds. Machalik and Chase Reph each pulled down six boards apiece for Palmerton.

PALMERTON

Machalik 6-1-5-13, Sebelin 1-0-0-2, Robinson 3-2-2-8, Reph 2-0-0-4, Rumfield 0-0-0-0, Leister 0-0-0-0, Serfass 0-0-0-0, Grammes 2-3-3-10, Hosier 6-4-6-17, Steinmetz 0-0-0-0, Stahler 0-0-0-0, Anthony 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 21-10-16-54.

NORTHWESTERN

Hite 0-0-0-0, Fitch 2-4-5-9, Zimmerman 1-0-0-3, Wellings 0-0-0-0, Bollinger 2-1-2-5, Kozlowski 0-0-0-0, Nelson 3-7-8-13, Marth 1-0-0-2, Tyler 1-0-0-2, Miller 0-0–0-0, Berk 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 11-12-15-36.

Palmerton 18 7 10 19 - 54

Northwestern 2 11 14 9 - 36

Three pointers: Palmerton - Hosier 1, Grammes 1; Northwestern - Fitch 1, Zimmerman 1.