Lehighton downs Palmerton

The first game of the season for any team, no matter what the skill level, can be challenging. Usually, it takes a few minutes to work the jitters out and settle in.

On Friday night, in the season opener for both Lehighton and Palmerton, that was exactly the case. It took time for both teams to get going, but it was the Tribe that kicked it into high gear just a bit faster, defeating the Bombers, 54-24.

Lehighton led 11-5 after one quarter, but the Bombers crawled back into contention, knotting the score up at 13-13 with 3:34 remaining in the second.

After turning the ball over six times in the first quarter, Palmerton flipped the switch on the Indians in the second, forcing them to turn it over seven times while only committing two turnovers of their own.

“The second quarter was certainly our best quarter of the night and defensively we really got after it and we also protected the ball on the offensive end,” said Palmerton head coach Ralph Andrews. “Our effort in the second is something we’re going to look to build on. Our defense created our offense, we were able to get up and down the floor and keep them out of their half court sets.”

Lehighton regained the lead a minute later off an Aubrey Blasiak inside scoop, and would later go up another deuce after a Skylynn Faust bucket. The Bombers were still within four late in the half, but with just under 15 seconds remaining in the half the Tribe went on their most important offensive run of the game.

A triple by Blasiak from the left corner put Lehighton up seven. Blasiak, was fouled on the shot, missed her free throw but a Faust put back on miss extended the Lehighton lead to 24-15.

In the blink of an eye, the momentum was fully on the side of Lehighton.

“Credit really has to go to Palmerton because they frustrated us early and threw a lot at us. It wasn’t easy battling through that,” said Indians head coach Joe Berezwick.

“Our run at the end of the half was the key. It gave us some separation heading into the half and then as all coaches do, we talked to the girls about how important it was to continue that run to start the third and we were able to do that.”

Berezwick’s message to his team at halftime was signed, sealed and delivered.

The Tribe didn’t give up a point in third frame, while Faust’s two triples from the outside helped spur a 12-0 advantage in the quarter that put the game out of reach.

SENSATIONAL SENIORS ... Lehighton veterans Blasiak and Faust were the difference in the game. The two combined for 39 of the Indians’ 54 points and also combined for six three-pointers.

FREE IS FOR ME ... The second quarter was filled with free throws as a total of 22 foul shots were taken in the period between the two teams.

PALMERTON

B. Guedes 2-3-4-7, Hirochek 1-0-0-3, Cincilla 0-1-2-1, Linnaea Leister 1-10-12-14, Frantz 0-1-1-1, Beahm 0-0-2-0, Recker 0-0-2-0. Totals 4-15-23-24.

LEHIGHTON

Frey 0-0-0-0, Hibbler 1-2-2-5, Blasiak 5-9-11-22, Miller 0-0-0-0, Faust 6-2-4-17, Brown 1-1-3-3, Buchinsky 0-2-2-2 Pantella 2-0-0-4, Long 0-0-0-0. Totals 15-16-22-54.

Palmerton 5 10 0 9 - 24

Lehighton 11 13 12 18 - 54

Three-pointers: Palmerton - Hirochek 1: Lehighton - Blasiak 3, Faust 3, Hibbler 1.