BENSALEM - A potential game-tying Kelsey Balliet three-pointer couldn’t find the mark with 10 seconds left as Palmerton dropped its PIAA Class 3A first round matchup Friday night against West Catholic.

Down eight with two-and-a-half minutes left, the Blue Bombers used their press and the Burrs’ shaky free-throw shooting to earn a chance at overtime before falling short.

“We had our opportunities but the ball didn’t go in at key times,” Palmerton coach Dan Beck said. “The kids played hard and we got great looks but credit to (West Catholic) as they made more shots than we did tonight.”

Palmerton ends its season at 21-6, while West Catholic (13-12) advances to play the winner of Mount Carmel-Holy Redeemer.

A 2-for-14 shooting effort yielded just six Palmerton points in the first quarter, but the Bombers forced six West Catholic turnovers to trail by only two.

After a Megan Matsko basket to put them up 17-14, the Bombers went scoreless for the last 2:24 of the first half, while West Catholic went on a 7-0 run.

Palmerton finished the first half 6-for-25 overall and 1-for-9 on three-point attempts. West Catholic, meanwhile, ended the first half 10-for-19 from the field.

“Their height and athletic ability hurt us a little bit,” Beck said. “That led to some easy baskets for them on our end.”

A four-point West Catholic halftime lead ballooned to eight with two quick baskets before Beth Morgan stopped the bleeding with two free-throws at the 6:18 mark of the third quarter.

After leading for most of the game, the Burrs saw their advantage cut to 30-28 with two minutes left in the third quarter before running off the final five points of the stanza.

Palmerton used two Sydney Frantz three-pointers to stay within striking distance in the fourth quarter. Each time, however, West Catholic’s leading scorer Jalyn Moore converted multiple layups off of a press-break to extend the lead.

Moore powered the Burrs with 19 points, while Amina Reid and Jachine Bulter both added nine.

Frantz’s final three of the night brought the Bombers to within 45-42, but that’s as close as they would come before Reid added a final free-throw to seal it.

“I’m proud of our kids,” Beck said. “They are extremely coachable and they give 100% when they are out there. Twenty-one wins is a good season. We didn’t play our best basketball at the end, but they can hold their heads high.”

In her final game with Palmerton, Morgan led the way with 18 points, while underclassmen Matsko and Frantz both poured in eight.

“Our senior class has done a tremendous job,” Beck said. “I can’t even tell you how many wins it has been. We had over 20 each of the last two years. Bethie has been a leader out there for four years and Kelsey (Balliet) is our enforcer. She plays her heart out for us each time.”

PALMERTON

Frantz 3-0-0-8, Barry 2-0-0-5, Matsko 3-2-4-8, Balliet 1-1-2-3, Morgan 4-9-14-18, Baumgardt 0-0-0-0, Andrews 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 13-12-20-42.

WEST CATHOLIC

Bulter 4-1-4-9, Freeman 0-0-0-0, Thomas 2-0-0-4, Henry 0-1-6-1, Reid 2-4-8-9, Scott 2-0-0-4, Moore 8-3-4-19. TOTALS: 18-8-22-46.

Palmerton 6 11 11 14 - 42

West Catholic 8 13 12 13 - 46

Three-pointers: Palmerton - Frantz 2, Barry 1, Morgan 1; West Catholic - Reid 1.