For Palmerton’s Ryan Yacone, it was just a matter of instincts.

With his team leading Lehighton by just two points with seconds left to play Friday night, the Blue Bomber senior came up with a blocked shot to clinch a 44-42 comeback victory in both team’s season-opener.

“Once he started driving and got a step on his man, I just had to come over,” said Yacone. “It just happened so quickly, it must have been instinct.

“We were gritty and gutted it out on defense tonight. We talked and that’s the most important thing on defense. We communicated, stayed in front, boxed out and didn’t let them get second chances.”

Yacone’s block put an exclamation mark on Palmerton’s fourth-quarter defensive effort.

The Bombers, who rallied from an 11-point deficit, allowed just one point over the game’s final frame. That was after they had allowed 23 in the third frame.

“In the second half we came out trying to flip some defenses, and with the crowd noise and the environment I think our guys just got a little flustered,” said Palmerton head coach Ken Termini. “So we simplified things a little bit, tried to put a little pressure on them a little farther from the basket, and things finally started going our way.

“We knew if we stayed composed that things would eventually work out. We got flustered, but didn’t lose focus. We regained it and that was the difference.”

Trailing 40-29 with two minutes left in the third quarter, the Bombers received a three-pointer and driving basket from Yacone to help trim the gap to seven points heading into the fourth.

Kody Kratzer and Yacone drained back-to-back treys late in the final period to cut the score to 42-40, and a layup from Nate Dougherty with 1:20 to play tied the contest.

The Indians missed two one-and-ones after that to keep the game knotted, but Palmerton’s Eric Baumgardt converted his two foul shots with 28 seconds left to give the Bombers the lead.

Lehighton tried to come up with a tying shot down the stretch, as Addison Howland drove the lane. But Yacone slid over from his man and blocked it.

“I can’t even describe (the win),” said Yacone, who finished with a game-high 21 points. “Last year we lost to them twice, and we only won two games all year. No one was really giving us any credit.

“We knew what we have, and we love what we have. We fought back and got the win.”

For Lehighton and its first-year head coach Trevor Miller, the tough loss will serve as a learning experience.

“I think our inexperience showed,” said Miller. “Our lack of experience in varsity games kind of came to fruition, and that was one of my concerns. A lot of these guys haven’t been in the spotlight like they were tonight ... Unfortunately things snowballed where they got a little momentum and we kind of crumbled.

“We just have to forget about the end result and move on. We learn from it and get better. If we do that, everything will be OK.”

TALKING TREYS ... Neither team made a three-pointer in the first half, but the two clubs combined for seven of them in the second half.

EXPLOSION ... The Indians tallied 22 points during a four-and-a-half minute stretch in the third quarter, highlighted by three Collin Troxell three-pointers. Lehighton only scored 20 other points outside that stretch.

THE LINE IS MY FRIEND ... Baumgardt came up clutch at the line, going 4-for-4. He shot 76 percent at the stripe a year ago. “We shoot free throws in practice every day, and he’s No. 1 ... right now,” said Termini. “So, when he got to the line, I had a good feeling.”

PALMERTON

Yacone 9-0-0-21, Young 0-0-0-0, Baumgardt 0-4-4-4, Dougherty 4-2-5-10, King 1-0-0-2, Kratzer 1-0-0-3, Yaindl 0-0-0-0, Silfies 2-0-2-4, Quinn 0-0-0-0. TOTALS: 17-6-11-44.

LEHIGHTON

Heery 0-0-0-0, Troxell 5-0-1-13, Carpenter 4-1-2-9, Schaeffer 0-0-0-0, Hunsicker 1-1-3-3, Bradley-Chambers 0-1-2-1, Howland 1-1-3-3, Venuto 3-0-0-6, Schatz 3-1-2-7. TOTALS: 17-5-13-42.

Palmerton 7 12 15 10 - 44

Lehighton 8 10 23 1 - 42

Three-pointers: Palmerton - Yacone 3, Kratzer 1; Lehighton - Troxell 3.