Both Jim Thorpe and Palmerton have had their share of ups and downs so far this season. Despite some tough losses up to this point, both teams' efforts have been present for the most part. When the two programs entered into the first round of the Slatington Rotary Basketball Invitational, both sides' objective was clear -- win.

The Blue Bombers used 17 points apiece from Spencer Hay and Zach Svetik, and a strong second half defensive effort to hold off the Olympians for a 53-46 win, sending them to the final to face Lehighton."It was a tough win," Palmerton head coach Leigh Keenan admitted afterward. "(Jim Thorpe) battled, and we were down late in the game and then guys just stepped up for us and that's what we needed. We pulled together and played a complete game."In the exciting fourth frame, a Chris Micciche trey got the Olympians within one at 37-36 with just over six minutes to play. Palmerton's Mikey Stasko and Spencer Hay responded with lay-ups to give their team a 41-36 edge a minute later.Two Rayan Green free throws cut the lead to three, and the Jim Thorpe full-court pressure seemed to force another Palmerton turnover. However, a diving Hay saved the ball to a streaking Stasko down the lane for a lay-up to make it 43-38 with 4:07 remaining."Palmerton seemed to beat us to every loose ball tonight," Olympian head coach Jason McElmoyle said. "It just wasn't a typical effort by our kids and if we want to win these types of games, we are going to have to execute better than we did."Jim Thorpe (6-4, 3-1), responded immediately, as Coach McElmoyle incorporated an effective full-court press. Micciche converted on a fast-break lay-up, and following a Bomber turnover, he put back a teammate miss to cut into the lead. A Palmerton missed field goal gave the Olympians another opportunity that saw Matt Elmore (16 points), put in a turn-around to give Thorpe a 44-43 lead with 2:21 to play.Hay took the ball baseline and pulled up for a jumper that hit twine to give his team back the lead, and fellow senior Zach Svetik hit his fifth and final triple of the game shortly after to give the winners the lead for good.In the final minute and a half, Hay made a fast break lay-up and teamed with Stasko for a 3-6 free throw showing to prove enough for the victory."It was a really good team effort overall, on defense and offense," Svetik admitted. "We helped each other out, we knew our assignments, and it feels great to be playing in the championship game of this tournament."Early on, the Olympians erupted out of the gates, cruising to a 19-11 first period lead. Brendan Carroll registered all eight of his points in the first, helping Thorpe out to the early swell. Joey Suto had five points to keep the Bombers within reach. Brett Papay's five in the second helped Palmerton to move within 23-18 at the intermission.Svetik caught fire in the third, hitting for 11, as the winners came back and took the lead. Elmore's eight kept the Olympians close and that set up the final session, that saw the Blue Bombers improve to 4-4 overall, 2-3 in the league.HAY, DUDE! ... Palmerton's senior leader, Spencer Hay played brilliantly, as he compiled 17 points, 14 rebounds and nine blocks for the well-rounded effort. "From high jumping against him, I knew that we have been neck and neck, so that gave me confidence against him and we push each other to play better," Hay said.ILLEGAL MANEUVERS ... Jim Thorpe got four illegal screens called on them in the first half of the contest - three in the second frame - amidst a dry spell for the Olympian offense. This is also the point of the game where the Blue Bombers switched from zone to man-to-man, defensively.HOLIDAY HISTORY ... This is the 35th installment of the Slatington Rotary Basketball Invitational Tournament, as the event dates back to 1980-81. Palmerton and Northern Lehigh are the only two school that have appeared in every chapter of the holiday hoop event.JIM THORPECarroll 3-0-0-8, Elmore 7-2-3-16, Micciche 4-2-4-11, Jefferson 0-0-0-0, Green 2-4-6-8, Lauer 0-0-0-0, Joyce 0-0-0-0, McElmoyle 1-0-0-3. TOTALS: 17-8-13-46.PALMERTONHay 7-3-5-17, Svetik 5-2-2-17, Papay 2-0-0-5, Suto 2-0-0-5, Perschy 0-0-2-0, Stasko 2-3-6-7, Stahler 1-0-0-2. TOTALS: 19-8-15-53.Jim Thorpe 19 4 10 13 - 46Palmerton 11 7 18 17 - 53Three pointers: JT - Carroll 2, McElmoyle 1, Micciche 1; P - Svetik 5, Suto 1, Papay 1.